Linn Posey-Maddox, a professor of urban education in the Department of Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies, has dedicated her career to exploring and addressing the intersections of race, class, geography and education. Her teaching and research focus on how these factors shape access, equity and community engagement in urban educational contexts. A scholar and advocate for change, Posey-Maddox blends research with a deep commitment to building collaborative relationships that inspire learning and action.
Growing up in a multiracial family across suburban, rural and urban areas, Posey-Maddox experienced firsthand the ways social and geographic boundaries influenced access to resources. “I grew up with an awareness of how things like geography, skin color and race shape people’s access to institutions or limit opportunities,” she explains. These early experiences inspired her desire to understand and address systemic inequities, ultimately leading her to pursue a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. Her doctoral research examined the impact of gentrification and community dynamics on urban public schools, a topic she continues to explore in her work.
Posey-Maddox’s career began in the classroom, teaching fourth grade in California and Texas. These experiences gave her a frontline view of how schools can both perpetuate and disrupt inequality. “Schools are places of both the reproduction of inequality and opportunities for social change,” she notes. This learned experience shaped her academic path and continues to inform her approach to teaching and mentorship.
At Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development, Posey-Maddox has embraced the opportunity to work in Philadelphia, a city she describes as rich with history, diversity in many forms, and activism for social change. According to Posey-Maddox, “Philadelphia is a vibrant urban environment with incredible community assets, histories of organizing and mobilization.” She was particularly drawn to Temple’s urban location, opportunities for engaged scholarship, and the College of Education and Human Development’s commitment to educational equity and partnerships with local educational institutions.
In the classroom, Posey-Maddox emphasizes collaboration and care, encouraging students to bring their lived experiences into discussions. She noted that “building relationships is the foundation for learning.” Her approach is informed by her background as an ethnographer, which prioritizes listening, observing and understanding specific communities and contexts. “I see teaching as a process of co-creating knowledge, where students draw on their strengths and we learn together,” she adds.
Her research reflects her commitment to understanding and addressing educational inequities. A forthcoming publication in the Review of Educational Research examines how advantaged families engage in “opportunity hoarding,” perpetuating systemic disparities. “This piece was a true collaborative effort with colleagues and a former doctoral student,” she shares.
In addition to producing impactful research, she is working to build partnerships with local educators and organizations in Philadelphia, ensuring that her work remains grounded in the needs and strengths of the community.
Outside of her professional life, Posey-Maddox finds balance through family, nature and travel. She enjoys biking, hiking in Philadelphia’s parks and spending time with her two children. “I’ve enjoyed exploring the parks and green spaces in this city,” she says, highlighting her appreciation for Philadelphia’s unique environment.
Looking ahead, Posey-Maddox remains deeply committed to fostering equity in education and inspiring her students to become agents of change. “It’s an incredible privilege to think about big issues, research and write about them, and collaborate with people doing important work in education,” she reflects. As she continues her journey at Temple University, she hopes to work with students, colleagues and the broader educational community to create equitable and inclusive schooling experiences for our young people.
View Linn Posey-Maddox's faculty profile to learn more.