ASU School of Social Transformation welcomes new director

Elsie Moore has taken a new leadership position as the director of the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Prior to her appointment, Moore was the faculty head of the African and African American studies program at ASU.

Founding school director Mary Margaret Fonow stepped down from the role after many years of service and dedication.

“Dr. Fonow has done an excellent job of building the infrastructure of the school since its inception,” Moore said. “It is my intention to continue the initiatives she set while expanding upon them.”

Moore’s goals include building up enrollment in general studies courses offered by the school, increasing the number of majors at the school, and expanding the availability of scholarships for students.

In conjunction with these goals, Moore wishes to facilitate further mentoring and career development for students. She also plans to continue mentoring faculty, including associate professors on track to become full professors. 

Moore’s leadership experience is not limited to students and faculty. As a longtime administrator, she values the many roles that staff members play in their collaborative support of education. 

“As director, I will continue leading the school as a focused enterprise in education that recognizes the humanity of every participant and to do the best job we possibly can for the betterment of society.”

Moore earned her doctorate at the University of Chicago in Human Development, with specializations in Child Development and Psychoeducational Assessment. Her research examines school, family and community factors that influence the cognitive test performance, academic achievement, educational attainment, and career choices of female and male ethnic minority youth.  

Founded in 2009, the ASU School of Social Transformation brings together diverse scholars, students, and communities in African and African American studies, Asian Pacific American studies, social and cultural pedagogy, justice and social inquiry, and women and gender studies. The school focuses on transformational knowledge, including creative research approaches to themes and questions embedded in broader historical, social and cultural contexts.