James V. Shuls is the Head of the K-12 Education Reform Branch of the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University. An expert in education policy, Dr. Shuls focuses primarily on school choice, education finance, teacher labor markets, and character education. He has published extensively in academic journals, policy briefs, and popular outlets, contributing to national discussions on improving educational outcomes and educational freedom.
Before joining Florida State University, Dr. Shuls served as an associate professor and the graduate program director of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He has also held administrative roles, such as chair of the Department of Educator Preparation and Leadership at UMSL and Dean of the College of Education at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL.
Dr. Shuls earned his Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas, where he was a doctoral fellow at the Department of Education Reform. He is an advocate for innovative solutions in education, drawing on his experience as a classroom teacher to bridge theory and practice. At FSU, he leads efforts to advance research and initiatives that promote effective governance and civic-minded educational reform.