Northern Illinois University
Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations
College of Education

Leslie A. Sassone, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foundations of Education

Department

Research Interests

I am interested in philosophy as education. My philosophy of education practice emanates from my study of Friedrich Nietzsche, Paulo Freire and educational reformers such as Neil Postman and Ivan Illich. I remain concerned with what kind of individual is supported by various pedagogical practices.

My recent interests include spending time in a local elementary school juggling with 6th graders and exploring the philosophical connections between learning to juggle and social-emotional learning. Read more at Juggling in the Classroom.

Honors Faculty Fellow (2021-2022)

As an Honors Faculty Fellow, Professor Sassone will teach a seminar on Philosophy of Education in fall 2021 in the University Honors Program. The Honors Faculty Fellowship program identifies faculty eager to teach innovative, exciting seminars of interest to highly-motivated students from across the university.

Education

• Ph.D. Purdue Universty, West Lafayette, Educational Studies
• M.S. Ed. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Communication and Speech Education
• B.S. Westfield State College, Media Systems and Management

Selected Publications

• Sassone, Leslie A. (2007). “Meaning Beyond Words.” Thresholds in Education, 32 (2 +3), 52-54.
• Sassone, Leslie A. (2002) The Process of Becoming: A democratic Nietzschean Philosophical Pedagogy for Individualization. Discovery Association Publishing House, Chicago, IL. ISBN: 1-931967-03-2.

Awards

University Honors Great Professor Award recipient (2018). This annual, university-wide award recognizes NIU faculty and staff for their leadership, dedication and service to the University Honors Program.