Christopher Thomas, J.D., Ph.D.

Faculty Affiliate – Educational Leadership & Policy

Research Interests:
Education law & finance; Student activism

Dr. Christopher Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Florida’s College of Education. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Studies, Specializing in Educational Policy, and his J.D. from the Ohio State University. Before joining UF, Dr. Thomas was a practicing attorney with Frost Brown Todd LLC in Columbus, Ohio where he primarily practiced school law, representing the legal interests of public school districts. In addition to his legal practice, Dr. Thomas has a breadth of experience in education and the law including teaching high school English, interning with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the General Counsel, and serving as a judicial extern for Judge R. Guy Cole of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Dr. Thomas’s research focuses on the intersection of education law, policy, and practice, with special attention to issues of democratic governance and participation. He is the author of Reclaiming Democratic Education: Student and Teacher Activism and the Future of Education Policy available from Teachers College Press.