The political economy of educational policy and social change, how gender, race, and class intersect with educational and social inequalities.

Steven J. Klees is Professor of International Education Policy and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of Maryland. He completed his PhD at Stanford University and has been a faculty member at Cornell University, Stanford University, Florida State University, and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. He was a Fulbright Scholar on two occasions at the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil and has taught many short courses at universities around the world. He has worked on evaluations of education programs and policies in dozens of countries for a wide array of international agencies, ministries, and NGOs.  Professor Klees' work examines the political economy of education and development with specific research interests in globalization, neoliberalism, and education; the role of aid agencies; education, human rights, and social justice; the role of class, gender, and race in reproducing and challenging educational and social inequality; and alternative approaches to education and development. Professor Klees has published dozens of articles and book chapters.  Recent books include: The World Bank and Education: Critiques and Alternatives; Women Teachers in Africa: Challenges and Possibilities; and The Conscience of a Progressive. He is a former president and Honorary Fellow of the Comparative and International Education Society.

Affiliate Faculty, Consortium on Race, Gender and Ethnicity
Affiliate Faculty, Latin American Studies Center
Affiliate Faculty, Women's Studies Department

Comparative & International Education Society's Outstanding Scholarship Award, 1987
Fulbright Scholar Award, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, 1987 and 1992
Comparative & International Education Society, Vice-President & President, 2007-2009
Outstanding Mentor Award, Department of Education Policy and Leadership, 2006

See CV:  vita - Klees.pdf

African Teacher Project -- 2012-2016 -- co-PI with Jing Lin and Nelly Stromquist. Study of the problems faced by women secondary school teachers in Uganda, Tanzania, and Mali. Financed by MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, and an anonymous donor ($725,000).