Alexandra E. Pavlakis is an Associate Professor in the Simmons School of Education at Southern Methodist University. Informed by her experiences as a N.Y.C. public school teacher, her research examines student and family homelessness, family-school-community relations, and educational leadership. In particular, Pavlakis has studied student homelessness for over 15 years and has had the privilege of conducting and analyzing numerous interviews with youth and parents experiencing homelessness, as well as the school, district, and community partners who serve them.