H. Richard Milner IV

Vanderbilt University

Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Education, Professor of Sociology, Professor of Education Policy Studies

H. Richard Milner IV (also known as Rich) is Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Education and Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Previously, Professor Milner was a high school English teacher and a community college instructor. Professor Milner was the first Black person to earn tenure and promotion at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. In April 2022, Professor Milner received the prestigious Joseph A. Johnson, Jr. Distinguished Leadership Professor Award, one of Vanderbilt University's highest honors. His research, teaching and policy interests concern urban education, teacher education, African American literature, and the social context of education. Professor Milner's research examines practices and policies that support teacher effectiveness in urban schools. Professor Milner is immediate past President of the American Educational Research Association, the largest educational research organization in the world. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association. Professor Milner's work has appeared in numerous journals, and he has authored or edited eight books. His most recent are: The race card: Leading the fight for truth in America's schools (Corwin Press, 2023), Start where you are but don't stay there: Understanding diversity, opportunity gaps, and teaching in today's classrooms (Harvard Education Press, 2020 and 2010, Second Edition), Rac(e)ing to class: Confronting poverty and race in schools and classrooms (Harvard Education Press, 2015) and These kids are out of control: Why we must reimagine classroom management for equity (Corwin Press, 2018). Recently, Professor Milner served as the 2023 Seattle University Boeing-William Allen Distinguished Scholar, the 2023 University of Lynchburg Rosel Schewel Lecture in Education and Human Diversity, and was selected to serve on the 2023-2024 EdTrust Inaugural Research Advisory Council. In 2023, Professor Milner received the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Margaret B. Lindsey Award. Since 2012, Professor Milner has been named in the Public Presence Ranking of Education Week. He can be reached at rich.milner@vanderbilt.edu.