Jessica DeMink-Carthew’s scholarship and teaching centers on supporting middle grades educators in creating and advocating for socially just learning environments for young adolescents. Her current research and teaching projects are focused on social justice education and teacher advocacy. She is an experienced educator who has taught in France, Michigan, and Hawaii. Her areas of expertise include social justice education, teacher advocacy, teacher education, middle grades education, and proficiency-based learning.
Dr. DeMink-Carthew is an active advocate for socially just middle grades education locally and nationally in her various roles as a researcher, teacher educator, and community partner. As a faculty affiliate for the EMS-YPAR Collective in Burlington, Vermont, she offers support to youth participatory action research and its resulting youth activism. Jessica also leads the Teach for Justice Lab at UVM where she engages UVM students in supporting and researching local social justice initiatives.
A nationally recognized scholar, her research can be found in a variety of leading journals such as Multicultural Perspectives, Education Sciences, Middle School Journal, Research in Middle Level Education, and Studying Teacher Education. She is on the editorial board of both Middle School Journal and Research in Middle Level Education, serves on the Association for Middle Level Education Research Advisory Council, and is a council member of the AERA Middle Level Education Research Special Interest Group.
Jessica also serves on the board for Very Merry Theater and, in her free time, can be found dancing, singing, and performing musical theater.