Jennifer Bessolo


Jennifer Bessolo
  • Professor of the Practice
  • Masters of Educational Administration Program Coordinator
  • Educational Doctorate Program Coordinator for K-12 Administration

Contact Info

Office Phone:
Department Phone:
Joseph R. Pearson Hall, room #414
1122 W. Campus Rd.
Lawrence, KS 66045-3101

Biography

Jennifer Bessolo, Ed.D., coordinates and leads the MSE Educational Administration and the Ed.D District Leadership program at the University of Kansas and serves as professor of practice in both levels of study. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas and has a background in K-12 district and building leadership.

Prior to the Professor of Practice position at the University of Kansas, Jennifer served 17 years in public school roles in Kansas and North Carolina, including Director of Curriculum, Federal Programs, and Virtual Learning, Middle School and Secondary Director, principal, assistant principal, teacher and coach. A former mentor for the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute (KELI), she has coached principals in their first year of service in addition to previously teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at Washburn University, Fort Hayes University, and Baker University. She has served on several Kansas Department of Education state wide committees and has presented at the state and national level on Open Education Resources and Personalized Problem-Solving Learning Styles. Dr. Bessolo continues to serve in a leadership and curricular consulting role for regional school districts and stays connected to the K-12 leadership field through committee work and through service with the KU Center for Evaluation and Leadership (CEEL).

Research