About Us

The Nese Lab is a research collaborative, led by Dr. Rhonda Nese, focused on better understanding how we transform educational practices, systems, and policies so that they are inclusive and meet the needs of all community members, especially those students and families that have historically been marginalized and underserved. Specifically, the Nese Lab conducts research related to disrupting the school–to–prison pipeline, through strategies such as alternatives to exclusionary discipline (ISLA) and improving the transition from middle to high school (Project Elevate).

Our Mission

Our research is rooted in activism and advocacy for our community members who have been historically harmed by inequitable and insufficient educational practices. Our mission is to use science and innovation to support educational settings in their efforts to help all learners thrive. We believe that this takes a reexamination of practices that have traditionally excluded many learners from their educational environments. Our team works with schools, districts, and state educational agencies on implementing preventative practices to set all learners up for success.