Research Director
CurrentDr. James is the Director of Research at the Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) at UCLA. CTS conducts research that supports school systems and policymakers in their efforts to organize schools around the needs, interests, and talents of young people in a number of areas including school discipline and school climate, juvenile justice reform, student homelessness, students in the foster care system, school finance, and ensuring practices and policies take into account the needs of students of color inside and outside of school settings. Dr. James manages the day to day operation of research and data projects alongside a brilliant team of project directors and research analysts. A sociologist and demographer by training, her research has centered issues relating to inequality and race. Her current scholarship focuses on educational policy and social justice concerns across a range of areas including: school climate; Black student achievement; school discipline reform; education in juvenile justice contexts.
