Adam McPhail ('26) Field Experience

Originally from Rochester, Minnesota, Adam McPhail (Trumbull 25+1) is a Humanities major on the EDST Intensive certificate track. He is currently on a gap year, touring with Yale’s renowned a cappella group The Whiffenpoofs but spent this past summer interning with the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD).

NCSD is a network of civil rights organizations and research centers focused on promoting school diversity and addressing racial and economic segregation in U.S. schools. As an Education Policy and Communications intern, Adam contributed to several key projects, including developing a communications toolkit for a research paper on the decline of Black teachers in the North after Brown v. Board of Education. He also authored a factsheet summarizing polling on school integration for the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board, and drafted internal memos analyzing the history and effectiveness of magnet school programs in Kansas City and Hartford.

Adam’s experience at NCSD opened his eyes to the complex intersections between education policy, law, and civil rights. He says, “My work with NCSD exposed me to the broader legal and political history of the school integration movement and how it intersects with various education issues, such as school finance reform, diversity in the teacher pipeline, and housing.” This hands-on experience, combined with his coursework—especially Professor Garfinkel’s class on American Education and the Law—has reinforced his desire to pursue a career in education law.

Looking ahead, Adam plans to attend law school, where he hopes to become an education lawyer who advocates for clients in both state and federal courts while also continuing to push for more equitable policies at all levels of government. 

We are excited to see where Adam’s journey takes him and look forward to all he will continue to contribute to the field of education.