Mahnaz R. Charania, PhD

Mahnaz Charania, a highly accomplished research psychologist, educator, and social impact director, has been appointed as a Senior Research Fellow at Clayton Christensen Institute. With a PhD in Experimental Social Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelors's degree in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, Charania brings years of experience in measuring and evaluating the impact of innovative school practices. She has previously served as a public school district administrator, lead behavioral scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, founder of Rozhar Collaborative LLC, and more.

Charania has become a leading voice in transforming students' learning environments and networks and driving equitable access to educational opportunities. Her expertise covers translating evidence-based research to system-level practice, championing equity and social justice-driven practices, and designing innovative educational models that help students learn across differences and amplify their learning through real-world relationships. She has also served as an advisor to local, federal, and international agencies.

Charania is a Fellow with the Pahara Institute and was a recipient of Atlanta's 40 under forty awards in 2018. Her work on education innovation and equity has appeared in numerous high-profile journals, and she regularly contributes to the Christensen Institute's blog.