Carissa J. Zall

Cari Zall (she/they) is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Secondary MAT Program at Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling. For the MAT program, Cari teaches Social Studies Methods, Legal Issues in Education, Classroom Climate, and coordinates practicum placements for graduate teacher candidates. At Lewis & Clark’s undergraduate campus, Cari teaches two education courses, one with an in-school practicum.  Cari also serves as Secondary MAT Program Summer Director, the Director of the Teacher Pathway Program, and the Director of the Gender Diversity Certificate Program. 

Cari brings to her equity education practice over 20 years in the classroom and 15 years in the legal field prior to that. Her background includes human rights advocacy, conflict resolution, and civil rights law in Northern Ireland and in Washington, D.C. during and after the armed conflict there. She has been a curriculum designer and faculty administrator for a national online high school dropout recovery program and has experience in advocacy, providing professional development, and conflict resolution/mediation work. She served as the Senior Program Manager for Civics Learning Project, providing Civics education professional development and K-12 programming throughout Oregon. She is a licensed teacher in multiple states, is certified in online education, instructional design, and gamification, and is a James Madison Foundation Fellow for Constitutional Law Educators. Cari is a table-top gaming enthusiast, mom and bonus mom to 5 incredible trans and gender expansive young adults, and spends most of her time with her puppy, Ramona.

Areas of Expertise

Civics Education, Social Studies Strategies & Methods, Law Related Education, Conflict Resolution & Management, Ethic of Care, Teacher Education 

Academic Credentials

PhD, Education Theory & Practice: Simon Fraser University (expected 2025)

MA, Political Science: Virginia Polytechnic University (2013)

MAT, Secondary Education: Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling (2005)

BA, Conflict Analysis & Resolution: George Mason University (1997)