Deborah Loewenberg Ball is the William H. Payne Collegiate Professor in education at the University of Michigan, and an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor. She currently serves as dean of the School of Education and as director of TeachingWorks, a national organization housed at the University of Michigan that is dedicated to improving teacher education in the United States. She taught elementary school for more than 15 years, and continues to teach mathematics to elementary students every summer.

Ball’s research focuses on the practice of mathematics instruction, and on the improvement of teacher training and development. She is an expert on teacher education, with a particular interest in how professional training and experience combine to equip beginning teachers with the skills and knowledge needed for responsible practice. Through TeachingWorks, she is leading an effort to develop a comprehensive professional training curriculum that spans initial training through at least the first three years of teaching practice, with corresponding assessments to determine whether beginning teachers are ready to be responsible for a classroom of students. Her work is informed by strong links both to the arts and sciences and to professional preparation in other domains.

Ball has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications and has lectured and made numerous major presentations around the world. Her research has been recognized with several awards and honors, and she has served on several national and international commissions and panels focused on policy initiatives and the improvement of education, including the National Science Board, the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, and the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Education.