Rema Vassar is the Board of Trustees Chair for Michigan State University and as a Professor in the Administrative and Organizational Studies Department at Wayne State University’s College of Education.
The author of many scholarly journal articles, Vassar’s research interests include parent-school partnerships; race, gender, and class implications in schools; implications of policy and practice on student achievement and outcomes; and equity, justice, access, and inclusion for minoritized communities.
In addition to her work in higher education, Vassar has extensive experience in K-12 public education, having served over 20 years as a teacher, counselor, and principal. In 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Vassar to the MiSTEM Advisory Council for three years. She maintains a steadfast commitment to community service through her partnerships with school districts across the state to develop students and educators’ transformative leadership skills.
Vassar earned her doctorate from UCLA in Urban Schooling.