About Us
Dr. Russell Quaglia, President
Dr. Russell Quaglia is the President/Founder of the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations (QISA). He has been described by national television as America's foremost authority on the development and achievement of student aspirations.
As a dynamic speaker, he travels extensively presenting research-based information on student aspirations and motivation to audiences throughout the United States and around the world.
His opinions and comments on aspirations and controversial educational topics have been sought after and published in national media such as the Washington Post, Boston Globe, New York Times, USA Today, Chronicle of Higher Education and Education Week. He has also appeared on national and international television and radio including CNN, NPR, BBC, CSPAN, and NBC.
Quaglia heads the Aspirations Research Center (ARC), a division of QISA focused on the collection, analysis and dissemination of data about the conditions that affect student and staff aspirations. As a former professor of Education and currently a visiting scholar at Stanford University and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, he is focusing his attention on the conditions that affect the aspirations of post-secondary students.
Quaglia's expanding research role in higher education has afforded him the opportunity to develop new tools for colleges to measure the factors that impact student aspirations. His cutting edge work has provided him the opportunity to serve on numerous national commissions ensuring the voices of students are always recognized, heard, and acted upon.
He received his Bachelor's degree at Assumption College, a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Boston College, and a Master of Education and Doctorate from Columbia University specializing in the area of organizational theory and behavior. He has also been awarded numerous honorary doctorates in Humanitarian Services for his work with students around the world.
Quaglia's research has been published in numerous professional journals, such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Journal of Instructional Psychology, American School Board Journal, Adolescence and the Journal of Psychological and Educational Measurement. His thoughts and opinions have also appeared in popular magazines such as: Reader's Digest, Better Homes and Garden, Parent and Family Magazine and Ladies' Home Journal. He is also the author of numerous books including: Believing in Achieving; Student Aspirations: Eight Conditions that Make a Difference; Raising Student Aspirations: Classroom Activities for Grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12; Changing Lives Through the Principalship; Don't Lose Sight of the Target; and Sam's Adventures in School.
