Faculty Profiles

Deanna Michael

associate professor of Higher Education and Policy and chair of the department of curriculum, instruction, and learning

Deanna Michael image

Email Address: dmichael@usf.edu
Phone Number: 727-873-4577
Office Location: USF St. Petersburg campus, COQ 221


Dr. Deanna Michael, PhD, is an expert in educational policy. She studies policies at the federal, state and local levels, particularly racial desegregation policies from the 1960s and ‘70s. Dr. Michael was one of the first researchers to study Jimmy Carter’s educational policies, beginning with his work as chairman of a Georgia county school board. Later on she wrote the book, "Jimmy Carter as Educational Policy Maker: Equal Opportunity and Efficiency," which was published in 2008. Dr. Michael also published peer-reviewed papers and contributed a chapter to the book "Education Reform in Florida."

Dr. Michael teaches undergraduate courses on diversity and social foundations of education, looking at schooling in the context of society, how policy decisions are made and by whom. When not researching and teaching, she has served as President of the USF Faculty Council, a member of the USF St. Petersburg Faculty Senate and a member of the Faculty Board of Trustees. 

Recent Presentations

Michael, D. and Shircliffe, B. (2021, June 14-25). Social Justice Through An Unlikely Door: How The General Education Board Found Support For Secondary Education Through Local Identity [Conference Presentation]. ISCHE 42, Virtual Meeting.