Assistant Professor
Northern Illinois University
Leadership, Educational Psych. & Foundations
Graham Hall 227 C
DeKalb, IL 60115
mvanover@niu.edu
(815) 753-3108
Professor VanOverbeke's research focuses on the history of education and on educational policy. Specifically, he is interested in the history of educational access and opportunity. His most recent work explored the interconnectedness of secondary and higher education at the turn of the twentieth century and the ways in which these connections influenced access to college. He currently is continuing this line of inquiry by researching the history of state colleges and universities in the post-World War II decades. These institutions forged important connections with secondary schools that allowed them to enroll more students and contribute to the expansion of educational opportunities in the post-war years.