Nicholas Mitchell

Nicholas Mitchell
  • Assistant Professor

Contact Info

Biography —

Nicholas Ensley Mitchell joined the KU faculty in the fall of 2020. He earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University in 2016. He is a curriculum theorist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of education theory, policy, and practice. His public scholarship focuses on anti-bigotry and issues of diversity.

Education —

Curriculum and Instruction, Louisiana State University, 2016, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education, Louisiana State University, 2015, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Specialization

  • Curriculum Studies
  • Professional Ethics
  • Multicultural Education

Research —

His research interests include curriculum theory, critical pedagogy, post-structural public policy analysis, critical race studies, creolization and borderland studies, multicultural education, and sexuality education. He has published in the Journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies.

Research interests:

  • Curriculum Theory
  • Hate Studies
  • Sexuality Studies
  • Education Law and Policy
  • Multicultural Education

Teaching —

  • C&T 903: Curriculum Supervision

  • C&T 235: Culture & Community in K-12 Schools

  • C&T 402: Professional Learning Seminar II- Professional Ethics and its Applications

  • C&T 807: Multicultural Education

  • C&T 800: Foundations of Curriculum

  • C&T 907: Critical Pedagogies

Selected Publications —

Books

Journal Articles

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2025). Public policy as curriculum: A feminist post-structural policy and critical policy analysis of legislative bills mandating intramural and interscholastic sports participation according to sex. The Journal of The American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies. 16(2). https://ojs.library.ubc.ca/index.php/jaaacs/article/view/198771

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2024).  On the student’s right to knowledge: Towards an obligation to teach the truth disposition for teacher preparation curriculum. Journal of Thought. 58(1-2). 20-35. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27328353

  • Mitchell, N. E. (2022). A critical race theology analysis of catholic social teaching as justification for reparations to African Americans for Jim Crow. Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 19(2), 251-273. https://doi.org/10.5840/jcathsoc202219218

Book Chapters

  • Mitchell, N.E. “On integrating historically White colleges and universities: Debates over diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in context” in Halman, H., Mendoza, V. (Eds.). (2024). Promoting equitable classroom practices in higher education: Approaches beyond Curriculum. Information Age Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/979-8-88730-621-620251002

  • Mitchell, N.E. “Towards a framework for intersectional justice discernment for culturally responsive school leaders” in Cager, B., Tussey, J., Haas, L. (Eds.). (2023). Culturally responsive leadership for academic and social equity and justice in schools. IGI Global. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/towards-a-framework-for-intersectional-justice-discernment-for-culturally-responsive-school-leaders/328202

  • Mitchell, R.W. & Mitchell, N. E., “The practice of engaging doubt” in Hendry, P., Quinn, M., Mitchell, R., & Bach, J. (Eds.). (2023). Curriculum histories in place, in person, in practice: The Louisiana State University curriculum theory project. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003349020-20 

  • Mitchell, N. E. “Toward a creole curriculum” in Hendry, P., Quinn, M., Mitchell, R., & Bach, J. (Eds.). (2023). Curriculum histories in place, in person, in practice: The Louisiana State University curriculum theory project. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003349020-24

Selected Presentations —

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2026). Mahmoud v. Taylor: New interpretations of the Free Exercise Clause and curriculum concerns.[Conference Session]. AERA Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2025). Towards a critical colorblind theory of law, policy, and curriculum [Conference Session]. AERA Conference, Denver, CO.

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2023) Towards a new lens of analysis for discussing racism: Dominion racism [Conference Session]. Bergamo Conference on Curriculum Theory and Classroom Practice, Dayton, OH.

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2023) Stamped with the badge of inferiority: Transgender student athlete bans as curriculum [Conference Session]. AERA Conference, Chicago, IL.

  • Mitchell, N.E. (2022) The apparatus of othering: A blended policy analysis of state legislative bills seeking to ban transgender student athletes from participating in school sports according to their gender identity [Conference Session]. Bergamo Conference on Curriculum Theory and Classroom Practice, Dayton, OH.

Awards & Honors —

  • 2026 Faculty Achievement Award for Impact and Belonging, University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences.
  • 2023 Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching/Advising, University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences.