Ryan Crowley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Crowley is an Associate Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Teaching & Learning. Dr. Crowley joined the faculty in 2014 after completing his doctoral studies at the University of Texas. Prior to beginning his graduate work, he taught high school social studies in Texas. At the University of Kentucky, he teaches social studies methods courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Crowley also teaches courses in curriculum theory, qualitative research methods, and multicultural perspectives in education.
His research focuses on issues of race and equity in social studies education and teacher preparation. His early research explored how preservice teachers develop their understanding of race, racism, and inequality as they learn to teach, and how teacher education programs can support these developments. He is also interested in how social studies classrooms address difficult histories and contemporary social issues, and how curriculum and instruction can help students better understand questions of power, inequality, and democracy.
Research categories: Social Studies Education, Secondary Education, Elementary Education, Teacher Education, Diversity in Education