Lara Dixon

Dr. Lara Dixon is an educator with experience leading and teaching at the university and public school district levels. Lara has published articles and has been an invited presenter over 80 times, speaking on leadership, advancing learning, achievement, culture, and GenAI. Lara is also the CEO of Archer Educational Consulting and testifies as an educational expert on educational administration, leadership, curriculum, instruction, and school placement matters.

At Michigan State University, Lara serves as the College of Education Director of Educator Preparation and Accreditation and Assistant Professor for K-12 Administration. Lara is the Secretary and Treasurer for MAPEL, the Michigan Association of Professors of Educational Leadership. Lara is on MDE’s statewide MISchool Data Leadership Council, Region 8 CC Mental Health and Wellness Feasibility Study, Well-Trained Educators and Specialized Instructional Support Personnel and Evidence-Based Committee, and an Emerging Best Practices Committee. Lara is a Gerstacker Fellow and has studied how government, industry, and educational leaders advance a country’s achievement and economic prospects.

Prior to joining MSU’s faculty, Lara worked in Ohio and Michigan P-12 public inner city and suburban schools as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, high school principal, MASSP Board Member, Director of Partnerships and Initiatives, and Director of Elementary Education. Lara was a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan and an adjunct instructor at Saginaw Valley State University. Lara received the Governor’s Educational Service Leadership award, MDE’s High Performing Reward School, the Troy Chamber of Commerce’s Top in Troy: Woman of Influence, ESGR’s Above & Beyond award, ESGR’s Patriot award, Character’s.org’s National School of Character award, and helped public schools and districts improve and become nationally recognized for achievement and culture.

Lara holds an Eastern Michigan University Ed.D. of Educational Leadership, a University of Toledo Ed.S. of Educational Leadership and Supervision, a University of Toledo M.A. of Educational Administration and Supervision, a Bowling Green State University B.A. of English, and a Bowling Green State University B.S. of Music Education.

• Eastern Michigan University
• University of Toledo
• Bowling Green State University