Meet the Staff

Amanda Winkelsas is originally from Buffalo and began her education in the Buffalo Public Schools. Later, she earned a BA in secondary English education from Canisius College, an MSED from Fordham University, and a PhD in urban education from the CUNY Graduate Center. Winkelsas worked in the New York City public schools for nearly 10 years, where she taught English in grades 7-12 and served as a literacy coach. Upon returning to Buffalo, she worked in education technology before transitioning fully to higher education. Her research interests have focused on educational equity, diversity in the teaching force, and preparing teachers to work with historically underserved student populations. 

Kristin Cipollone was born and raised in Western New York and has 20 years of experience in education, working in schools, universities and community organizations. She began her career as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher in the South Bronx before pursuing her PhD in education, culture, policy and society at the University of Buffalo. Most recently she was associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the Department of Elementary Education at Ball State University where she also directed the Schools within the Context of Community, a community-engaged teacher preparation program. Cipollone’s research interests include the preparation of pre-service educators, educator dispositions, the intersections of school-level factors and race, and class in the (re)production and maintenance of inequality. She holds BA degrees in history and Italian language and culture from the University of Rochester, and a master’s degree in elementary education from Mercy College.