Faculty spotlight: Dr. Brett Geier
Dr. Brett Geier is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology in the College of Education and Human Development, specializing in Pre-K-12 Leadership.
Dr. Geier received an A.B. from Hope College in 1994 in history and political science with an emphasis in secondary education. In 1999, he received an M.Ed. in educational leadership from Grand Valley State University and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Western Michigan University in 2007. Dr. Geier spent over 16 years in public education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in Michigan schools. Prior to coming to Western Michigan University, Dr. Geier was an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of South Florida.
His fundamental areas of research investigate public school law and finance and the intersection of these subjects pragmatically and theoretically on educational administration. Within these subject areas, more precisely, Dr. Geier examines the implication of Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause jurisprudence on public schools. Furthermore, Dr. Geier examines many elements within the school finance arena such as the systemic inequities and inadequacies of state finance systems specifically targeting demographics such as race and socio-economic status, public educator retirement systems, facility maintenance and construction, and efficient budgeting models. Dr. Geier’s research has been widely published in law reviews and journals such as Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, Journal of Law and Education, Campbell Law Review, First Amendment Law Review, Journal of Education Finance, Barry Law Review, College of Mississippi Law Review, School Planning and Management, School Business Affairs, Journal of Cases in Education Studies, and Professional School Counseling. He has composed multiple book chapters for various edited books and is the author of Quality Facilities for Enhanced Student Achievement. Dr. Geier is a 2016 National Education Finance Association Distinguished Fellow in Research and Practice. His research is regularly presented at local, state, and national forums and conferences. He received the College’s Emerging Scholar Award in 2018 and the College’s Trailblazer Award in 2020. Dr. Geier’s research is regularly presented at local, state, and national forums and conferences.
Currently, Dr. Geier is engaged in three primary writing projects. First, he is the editor for the Palgrave Handbook of Educational Thinkers, a compilation of 150 of some of the most prominent thinkers in education from antiquity to contemporary times. Second, Dr. Geier is composing a book on the effect the Roberts Court has had on education. He will be analyzing various aspects of law on education, such as discrimination, religion, special education, etc. and how the impact of Supreme Court decisions since 2007 have changed the way schools are managed. Lastly, he is researching various court decisions, law, and policy related to students who qualify for English as a Second Language services and special education.