Gary Homana

Biography

Gary Homana is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Elementary Education. He is the lead instructor for EDUC 202: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on America’s Urban Schools and also teaches SCED 304: Education, Ethics, and Change. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland with a specialization in Socio-Cultural Foundations from the Department of Education Policy Studies and an M.A. from Brandeis University in Social Policy. Prior to joining the faculty at Towson University, Dr. Homana collaborated with a team of investigators at Brandeis University conducting research evaluations on urban school culture and the retention of minority students in secondary and higher education. He has been in involved in several national research studies and projects including the National Commission on Service-Learning, chaired by Senator John Glenn, a study on improving teacher preparation, and a comprehensive arts-in-education whole-school change model designed to transform school culture. Dr. Homana served as special assistant in education to Maryland's Governor where he was involved in numerous education initiatives including a statewide education program serving 6,000 at-risk youth and adolescents. Dr. Homana began his career as a music therapist working with autistic children in Boston. His research interests include the social organization of classrooms and schools and their connection to community. He is particularly interested in the intersection of civic engagement, service-learning, school climate, and communities of practice for improved teaching and learning.

Publications

Vandiver, M.J., Homana, G., Vandiver, K.O., McNulty, M. (under review). What about Isaac? Using Voices of Baltimore: Life under Segregation to foster a complicated discussion about Brown v. Board: Success? Failure? A Set-Up? And … What Now? Resisting White Supremacy in the African Diaspora. Journal of Interdisciplinary Humanities.

Reid, D. & Homana, G. (2022). Teaching in the Age of Racial & ethnic Diversity: The Implications of Perspectives, Preparation, and Pedagogy. Thresholds in Education. ISSN 09169641

Homana, G., McDermott, M., & Campbell Jones, F. (Producers/Directors). (2017). Voices of Baltimore: Portraitures of Living through and Attending Schools during the Era of Legal Segregation [Documentary]. United States: College of Education, Towson University.