Action Research for Programs that Change Lives

Participatory Action Research (PAR) models offer a way for justice-focused leaders to explore meaningful questions about their programs in collaboration with the communities they serve. This introductory session will help fellows understand how action research can strengthen storytelling, document real impact, critically evaluate programs, and build equitable partnerships. Together, we’ll consider how inquiry can become a tool for reflection, strategy, and sustainability in mission-driven work.

Robyn Brookshire (she/her), is a collaborative leader and educator who cultivates inquiry-driven, equitable systems for learning and leadership across communities and organizations. Her career spans work in public schools, higher education, nonprofits, Head Start partnerships, and international collaborations—all centered on advancing the well-being of children, families, and the adults who serve them.

As an administrative leader, Robyn designs innovative, equity-driven systems for collaboration, communication, and shared leadership. While serving as Director of the Early Learning Center for Research and Practice at the University of Tennessee, she developed and implemented professional growth and coaching models grounded in collaborative action research. These frameworks emphasized leader and teacher inquiry as the foundation for reflective, sustained change that elevate shared power and knowledge generation. She is co-editor of the book, Collaborative Cross-Cultural Research Methodologies in Early Childhood Education (2017, Taylor & Francis). 

Robyn has also supported and collaborated on numerous faculty and student research projects that bridge rigorous inquiry with the complexities of real-world program environments. Robyn holds a doctorate in Early Childhood and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Special Education and Family Studies from the University of Kentucky, and a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Women’s Studies from Transylvania University.