Mavis Sanders is a Senior Principal Researcher at the Learning Policy Institute. In her role, she leads research and policy initiatives on Whole Child Education, Educator Quality, and Equitable Resources and Access. Her work at LPI focuses on advancing community schools as a strategy to transform learning experiences and opportunities for underserved students.

Sanders has authored over 60 publications, including five books, on family and community engagement in schools and the effects of home, school, and community collaboration on African American students’ school success. As an extension of her internationally recognized research, Sanders works closely with educational leaders and policymakers to promote collaborative approaches to school improvement and child and family well-being.

Sanders earned her PhD in Social Sciences, Policy, and Educational Practice and an MA in Sociology from Stanford University. She holds a BA in Urban Studies, with a concentration in Political Science, from Barnard College, Columbia University, along with a teaching credential in secondary social studies.