Outreach & Research

Mission Statement

The Office of the Associate Dean for Research, Outreach, and Engagement advances the College’s vision—Research Leads, Policy Moves, Practice Transforms—by serving as the central hub and strategic catalyst for research, partnership, and community engagement. We institutionalize a culture of research leadership by empowering faculty and researchers to translate discovery into measurable impact, enhancing institutional capacity, and aligning scholarly work with state and national priorities.

Introduction

The Texas Tech University College of Education advances research spanning educator preparation, teaching and learning, educational leadership, policy, innovation, special education, literacy, STEM education, rural education, and other critical areas that shape educational opportunity. Through collaborative partnerships and externally funded scholarship, faculty generate research that informs practice and creates lasting impact.

Supported by dedicated research administration and grant development professionals, our work moves beyond discovery to create lasting impact through evidence-based practice, informed policy, and sustainable partnerships.

Our Impact

Research has its greatest value when it improves lives.

Across every project, the College of Education works at the intersection of knowledge and action, ensuring that discoveries inform policy decisions, strengthen professional practice, and expand opportunity for children, families, educators, and communities.

Whether improving educator preparation, supporting school systems, advancing inclusive education, or developing innovative learning environments, our work creates measurable impact throughout Texas and across the nation through collaborative projects, community partnerships, educator development initiatives, and sponsored research.

Our impact is built through collaboration. Explore the map to see where the TTU College of Education is partnering with schools, communities, agencies, and organizations to improve educational outcomes.

We work at the intersection of knowledge and action, ensuring that what we discover informs the decisions of educators, leaders, and policymakers. By translating research into practice, we expand opportunity, improve well-being, and create lasting impact for children, families, schools, and communities throughout West Texas and beyond.

Research Strands

The College of Education's research is enhanced by four interdisciplinary research strands that foster collaboration, strengthen scholarly excellence, and position faculty to pursue high-impact, externally funded research. These enabling structures align faculty research and expertise with Texas Tech University's Strategic Research Themes while advancing the College's priorities for innovation, community engagement, and educational impact. Together, these strands support the University's pursuit of sustained research excellence and long-term research growth.

Educator Workforce

Intervention, Systems, & Implementation Research in Education

Instructional Innovations & Emerging Technologies for Systems-Level Change

Educational Policy, Practice, & Implementation Research

Research Centers

The College of Education's research centers serve as hubs for innovation, collaboration, and externally funded scholarship. Working alongside faculty investigators, these centers develop solutions that respond directly to the needs of schools, educators, learners, and communities while advancing research with national impact.

Outreach & Engagement

Research achieves its greatest impact through meaningful partnerships. The College works alongside educators, schools, agencies, nonprofit organizations, and communities to ensure research translates into practice and creates lasting improvements.

TEXAS Fellowship

A Collaborative Approach to Education Policy

The fellowship combines policy learning with hands-on experience through a year-long model that includes virtual seminars, site placements, collaborative working groups, and milestone convenings across Texas. Fellows develop a Policy Impact Project that addresses a real problem of practice while building the knowledge, skills, and professional networks needed to drive meaningful change in education.

Building Leaders for Texas

Through the TEXAS Fellowship, participants:

• Develop a deeper understanding of the Texas education policy landscape.
• Apply research to inform policy and practice.
• Collaborate with leaders across education, government, and community organizations.
• Build lasting professional networks that support continued leadership and innovation.
• Create actionable policy solutions that improve educational opportunities across the state.

Advancing the College's Mission

The TEXAS Fellowship exemplifies the College of Education's commitment to connecting research, policy, and practice. By preparing leaders who can translate evidence into action, the fellowship extends the College's impact beyond campus and strengthens educational systems throughout Texas.

Learn more about the TEXAS Fellowship

Community Partnerships

The College partners with school districts, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to co-develop research, implement evidence-based practices, and address educational challenges across Texas and beyond.

Practitioner Engagement

Faculty actively engage educators, administrators, policymakers, and community leaders through collaborative research, consultation, technical assistance, and applied scholarship that informs decision-making and improves educational systems.

Professional Development

Through workshops, institutes, coaching, and continuing education opportunities, the College supports educators and educational leaders with research-informed professional learning that strengthens practice and improves student outcomes.

Funding & Grants

The College of Education provides comprehensive support throughout the lifecycle of sponsored research from identifying funding opportunities and developing competitive proposals to ensuring compliance and successful project management.

Working alongside the Texas Tech Office of Research Services, the College's Grants Office offers specialized expertise tailored to education research.

Ready to Begin?

Start a Proposal

Our Grants Office can help identify funding opportunities, develop competitive proposals, navigate submission requirements, and support your project from concept through award.

People & Contacts

The Research, Outreach, & Engagement team supports faculty throughout the research lifecycle while building partnerships that extend the College's impact across Texas and beyond.

Texas Tech’s College of Education is home to some of the most dedicated and high caliber education researchers in the field. In close partnership with schools, families, and community stakeholders, we’re addressing the most pressing challenges in education and delivering solutions that matter. The impact of this work is felt locally, regionally, and nationally as we shape the future of education through rigorous research and meaningful collaboration.

— Alex Wiseman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research, Outreach & Engagement

Grants Office

The College's Grants Office provides proposal development, grant writing support, funding guidance, and sponsored project assistance throughout the research lifecycle.

Email the Grants Office

Heather Stocker, Grant Writer

Supports proposal development and faculty pursuing external funding opportunities.

Email Heather Stocker