Nate Phipps
Location
Room 1033
610 E. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Nate Phipps is the managing director of the Marsal Family School of Education’s Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and Research (CEDER). In his role, he oversees all of CEDER’s design, evaluation, and educational programs, including collaborating with project leads, fielding requests for new projects, and supporting projects throughout their lifecycle. He serves as director for CEDER’s program offerings, including the Dow Innovation Teacher Fellowship, Bosch Eco and STEM Teacher (BEST) Grant Program, and a student innovation competition, the James A. Kelly Learning Lever Prize Program. Nate works with CEDER colleagues to set the vision for CEDER’s work and to ensure CEDER is a positive organization.
Nate was drawn to the field of education because he believes it is the most important tool we have to promote equity and justice. He has a background in K-12 education, and worked as a high school social studies and ESL teacher in Boston, prior to joining U-M. Before teaching, he supported educators as a program coordinator at the national education resource non-profit Facing History and Ourselves.
At the Marsal School, Nate is active in serving and building community. He has served as a member of the Staff Development Committee, where he has led efforts to engage with the topics of positive leadership, “deep work,” focus, and work-life balance.
In 2020, he helped co-found the school’s Green Team, which seeks to inspire and empower the Marsal community to contribute to a more sustainable world by reducing waste, conserving energy, and connecting issues of sustainability and justice.
His efforts have been recognized with several Staff Recognition Awards, including Building a More Inclusive Community (2017), Collaborator Across Organizational Boundaries (2019), and Strong Work Ethic and Commitment (2023). He is a member of the American Evaluation Association and of the Michigan Alliance of Environmental and Outdoor Educators. Outside of work, he serves as Board President of Common Cycle, Ann Arbor’s bike co-op, where he brings together his interests in community, sustainability, education, and the joys of cycling and the outdoors.