Allyson Compton, Ph.D.

Allyson Compton, Ph.D., specializes in both graduate and undergraduate courses that explore the foundations of education. Her courses encompass a range of topics, including learning theories, the socio-political and economic contexts of education in the United States, the historical evolution of educational policies and practices, and critical approaches to curriculum and pedagogy. Drawing on her extensive experience as a social studies educator in New York City public schools for fifteen years, Dr. Compton also teaches courses focused on the theories and methodologies of social studies education.

Her research engages with critical posthumanism to deepen our understanding of learning processes in increasingly complex contexts, particularly in relation to difficult knowledge and historical narratives. Before joining Iona University, Dr. Compton served as an instructor of social studies education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her B.A. in Social Studies and History Education from Boston University, her M.A. in History from Hunter College, and her Ph.D. in Social Studies Education from Columbia University.

Compton, A. (2024). Sonic Dread: Classroom Encounters with the Sounds of Gun Violence through Film. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, 39(1b).

Miles, J., Compton, A., & Herold, E. (2024). Crash Course in the Classroom: Exploring How and Why Social Studies Teachers Use YouTube Videos. The Journal of Social Studies Research, 48(3), 190–203.

Compton, A. (2023). Lesson Plans as Objects of Cruel Optimism and the Rhizome as a Way Out. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, 38(2).

Compton, A. (2024). “(Re)Orientations through the Cyborg: A Posthuman Analysis of Social
Studies Teacher Professional Learning.” College & University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies 2024 Annual Conference.

Compton, A., Vilson, J., & Sensharma, A. (2024) “A Co-Construction of Teacher Learning About and Through Education Activism.” American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2024 Annual Conference.

Compton, A. (2023) “Sonic Dread: Classroom Encounters with the Sounds of Gun Violence Through Film.” College & University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies 2023 Annual Conference.

Miles, J. & Compton, A. (2023). “Teaching History with Crash Course: Exploring the Results of a Mixed Methods Study.” College & University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies 2023 Annual Conference.

Compton, A. (2022) “The Life Cycle of a Secondary Source: A Critical Pedagogy Informed Case Study of Veteran Teachers’ Use of Historiography.” Graduate Forum, College & University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies 2022 Annual Conference.

Compton, A. & Mishrikey, J. (2021). “Harkness Discussion as Effective Pedagogy to Affective Student Learning in the Wake of 2020.” Graduate Forum, College & University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies 2021 Annual Conference.