Kristen Weeks Neal, Ph.D. is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. Her areas of specialization include the design of learning environments, responsive curriculum design, family and community engagement in schooling, and teacher learning. Neal earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from Vanderbilt in 1999. She has served as Director of the Learning and Design M.Ed. Program since 2015, guiding the program's vision and development. Neal has extensive experience partnering with local schools and organizations on initiatives related to family engagement, curriculum design, and teacher professional learning. Her recent work includes collaborating on a U.S. State Department grant to improve higher education and build a stronger teacher workforce in Iraq. Neal has published articles and presented nationally and regionally on topics such as funds of knowledge, family-school partnerships, and standards-based curriculum. She is actively involved in service to the Nashville community, serving on boards and advisory councils for education organizations.