Dr Marnie Best is a lecturer and researcher in the School of Education at Adelaide University and is a full member in the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Education (JPP) (First Class Honours).
Central to Dr Best's teaching, research and scholarship is a focus on enacting change for the most vulnerable learners and educators within educational systems. Her doctoral research focused on alternative education provision and in particular, the social and psychological factors which influenced the achievement motivation of marginalised students in the middle years of school. She was awarded a much coveted Australian Centre for Child Protection Research Scholarship to undertake her doctoral study.
Dr Best lectures at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, with experience in inclusive education, disability studies in education, educational psychology, and sociology. She is also an experienced higher degree by research supervisor.
Dr Best’s research focuses predominantly on inclusive education and disability studies in education, and the nexus between inclusive policy and practice. In addition, she holds research expertise in adolescent wellbeing, alternative education provision, educational marginalisation, and sociocultural theory. She is currently leading the university funded project, Early career teacher retention in complex alternative education settings. This project recognises, investigates and addresses potential barriers for early career teachers as they transition to the teaching profession through alternative education.
Dr Best is an accomplished author and editor within the fields of inclusive education and disability studies in education. Her co-edited book, 'Who's In? Who's Out? What to Do about Inclusive Education' (Best, Corcoran & Slee, 2018), drew together a team of internationally respected academics to discuss the dismantling of barriers involving access, presence, participation and success in education. She is the Executive Editor of the Journal of Disability Studies in Education, Associate Editor of the International Journal of Inclusive Education and Senior Editor of the Inclusive and Special Education section of Cogent Education.