Cynthia Zwicky

Cynthia Zwicky serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, within the College of Education and Human Development. With over 33 years as an educator, she has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, mentor to new teachers, and coordinator for various programs and initiatives, primarily with Minneapolis Public Schools. She has also instructed undergraduates pursuing elementary education degrees, emphasizing teaching in urban schools. Zwicky holds a PhD in Education Policy from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, an MEd in Montessori Education from St. Catherine's University, and two BS degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison—one in Elementary Education and one in Women's Studies and Math. Her academic background underscores her dedication to equity and innovative teaching practices.

Zwicky specializes in research areas including Restorative Justice, Equity, Teacher Education, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and Social Justice in Education. She is a nationally recognized authority on Restorative Justice Circles and has served on the Minnesota Department of Education Restorative Practices Advisory since 2016. Key publications include the chapter "Transforming Curriculum, Exploring Identity, and Cultivating Culturally Responsive Educators: Employing Critical Race Praxis to Examine the Development of Teachers and Educational Leaders Committed to Equity and Justice" (2020, with T. Walls) in Cultural Competence in Higher Education; "A Tale of Two Districts" (2019, with N. Reistenberg) in Beyond the Basics: Implementing Restorative Practices in Schools; and "Appendix 1: The Circle Process in Schools" (2005) in The Little Book of Circle Processes. Additionally, she reviewed Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice (3rd Edition) in Teachers College Record (2018). Zwicky has presented on restorative practices and equity at conferences such as the American Education Studies Association (2019), International Conference on Restorative Practices (2018), and National Association for Community and Restorative Justice (2017). Her teaching portfolio includes courses like CI 3211 Introduction to Elementary Teaching, CI 3212 Practicum: Elementary Teaching, and CI 5286 Student Teaching Seminar: Elementary Education.

Professional Email: zwicky@umn.edu