Dr. Rowhea Elmesky has been working within the field of education for over two decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, masters in science education, and PhD in science education with a disciplinary emphasis in physics. Dr. Elmesky also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania where she specialized in urban science education, critical ethnography and video microanalysis. She is currently an associate professor of education and the Director of Graduate Studies for the department of education at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research is centered around creating more socially just communities. She studies the sociocultural dimensions of urban educational contexts to improve culturally/racially/economically marginalized students’ access to an education that is supportive of their overall physical, emotional, and social wellbeing as well as conducive to the development of their academic identities. Through critical and collaborative research models, she strives to highlight the voices of those traditionally silenced. For the past eight years, she has been working collaboratively with a school district utilizing research as a catalyst to build a schoolwide restorative culture of trust, respect, and shared responsibility. This work led to her nomination for the AERA 2021 Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award and selection as a finalist of the Inaugural Danforth St. Louis Confluence Award that elevates university faculty’s leadership in conducting impactful community research. Dr. Elmesky’s passion for education also extends to supporting Islamic institutions; she has over 10 years of experience working with Islamic schools, including time as vice chair of the Al-Salam Day School board of education in St. Louis. Dr. Elmesky is also the mother of four boys ranging from 23 to 14 years one graduating from — and another currently attending — a research-intensive institution.