Faculty Profiles

A first-generation Polish American from Connecticut, Dr. Joanna Zadrozny's journey into education began where so many great teaching careers do—in the classrooms of inspiring educators who ignited a passion she would carry throughout her life.
Dr. Zadrozny began her academic career at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in K-6 Education. Along the way, an unexpected path revealed itself: a fascination with geography that led her to pursue a double major, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography as well. What began as an uncharted detour would prove to be a defining chapter in her career.

Her passion for the intersection of education and geography brought her to Texas State University, where she pursued graduate studies in geographic education. As a graduate student, Dr. Zadrozny worked in the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education within the Department of Geography, collaborating with faculty on a range of research initiatives. In 2018, she earned her Ph.D. in Geographic Education and continued her work at the Grosvenor Center as a research associate.

Beyond her research, Dr. Zadrozny played an instrumental role in the development of the online Ph.D. in Geographic Education degree program at Texas State University, which launched in 2020—expanding access to advanced geographic education scholarship for students nationwide. She is also deeply committed to strengthening geography education at the K-12 level, hosting professional development workshops for geography teachers across the state of Texas to enhance instructional practices and enrich classroom learning.

Dr. Zadrozny's research centers on social studies and geography standards, with a particular focus on Powerful Geography—an innovative teaching and learning framework designed to make geography meaningful and relevant by connecting students' interests and aspirations to geographic content and workforce opportunities. Through this work, she is helping to reshape how geography is taught, learned, and applied in the real world.