Personal profile
University profile
Dr. Patricia Virella is Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Department.
Dr. Virella applies critical lenses and qualitative methods to investigate how school leaders enact equity-oriented leadership through crises. She also investigates how educational reform policies shape school leaders’ equity orientation and impact districts that serve marginalized communities. Dr. Virella seeks to answer research questions to enable transformation and liberation in school leaders, districts, and policies.
Research interests
Applies critical lenses and qualitative methods to investigate how school leaders enact equity-oriented leadership through crises. Dr. Virella also investigates how educational reform policies shape school leaders’ equity orientation and impact districts that serve marginalized communities.
Keywords
- L Education (General)
- Educational Leadership
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Enacting and sustaining resilience in school leadership: lessons from New Jersey principals during overlapping crises
Virella, P. & Zeisner, C., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Educational Administration. p. 1-15 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Leveraging crisis for equitable school improvement: Leadership strategies from the field
Virella, P. M., 20 Jun 2025, Emerald Publishing. 208 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Professional learning for antiracist district transformation: the role of transformational leadership and double-loop learning
Virella, P. M., Ayari, C. & Tozer, S., 2025, In: Frontiers in Education. 10, 1584097.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Tell me about your trauma: an empathetic approach-based protocol for interviewing school leaders who have experienced a crisis
Virella, P. & Woulfin, S., 8 Dec 2025, In: Qualitative Research Journal. 25, 4, p. 449-465 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
The imperative for equitable crisis leadership in schools: A call to action
Virella, P. M., 20 Jun 2025, Leveraging Crisis for Equitable School Improvement: Leadership Strategies From the Field. Emerald Publishing, p. 1-4 4 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Press/Media
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FOUR EDUCATION EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON KEY ISSUES
Picower, B., Fox, J. K., Virella, P. & Isaacs, E.
18/08/23
1 item of Media coverage
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Researchers' Work from Montclair State University Focuses on Educational Administration (New Principals In the Covid Corridor: an Exploratory Case Study)
25/11/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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