John C. Pijanowski

Research Projects

Leadership Development - Dr. Pijanowski is the founder and current PI of the IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship (IMPACT). The IMPACT program addresses the principal shortage, high rates of turnover, and limited leadership development and support infrastructures that are exacerbated by geographic isolation and funding disparities in rural, high-poverty communities. (Learn more at http://www.impactfellowship.org).

Moral Leadership - This line of study explores how moral reasoning is taught and learned in a leadership context. I also study the critical factors involved in developing the courage and integrity needed to follow-up moral thinking with moral action.

Education Policy - My interest in education policy includes the study of how resources are distributed in schools and how students use those resources. I am particularly interested in strategies for engaging students in meaningful learning practice. My former teachers that have most influenced my research agenda include Ted Sizer, Ken Strike, and David Monk.

Higher Education Pedagogy - Born mostly out of my own interest in integrating technology into my college teaching. I am focused on exploring ways college instructors improve student learning.

Select Recent Publications

University of Arkansas Selected Works full text repository

Google Scholar Profile Page

Lasater, K., Pijanowski, J. C., Ray, J. (2024). Considering How Professional Norms and Practices Influence Leaders’ Well-Being. In Carpenter, B., Mahfouz, J, and Robinson, K. (Eds.), Supporting Leaders for School Improvement Through Self-Care and Wellbeing, 37-53. IAP.

Jones, A., & Pijanowski, J. C. (2023). Understanding and Addressing the Well-Being of School Counselors. NASSP Bulletin, 107(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/01926365231153436

Dougan, K., Lasater, K., & Pijanowski, J. (2021). Relative Age in Kindergarten: From the Perspective of Teachers. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(9). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i9.4596

Pijanowski, J. C. & Brady, K. P. (online first 2020, print 2021). Defining Social Justice in Education: Comparative Perspectives from Practitioners and Scholars. In Mullen, C. (Ed.), Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education. Springer.

Ray, J., Pijanowski, J., & Lasater, K. (2020). The Self-Care Practices of School Principals. Journal of Educational Administration, 58(4), 435-451. DOI: 10.1108/JEA-04-2019-0073

Pijanowski, J. C. & Lasater, K (2020). The case for intellectual virtue in educational leadership preparation program curriculum and pedagogy. Journal of Character Education, 16(1), pp. 27-38.

About Professor Pijanowski

John Pijanowski is Campus Faculty Chair and a professor of Educational Leadership. He served abroad in 2018 as a Fulbright Scholar and currently holds a four year term on the Fulbright Specialist roster. In 2011 he received the Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award - the highest teaching honor at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Pijanowski earned his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Brown University and a Master's and Ph.D. from Cornell University in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education.

John Pijanowski in the news