Khalid H. Arar is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy in the College of Education at Texas State University. His internationally recognized scholarship focuses on equity, social justice, and diversity in education, with particular attention to inclusive leadership, refugee education, and the experiences of underrepresented communities in both K–12 and higher education. Over the past two decades, Dr. Arar has built a robust and impactful global research program. He is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, 17 scholarly monographs published in three languages, 21 edited volumes, and over 60 book chapters. His editorial leadership includes serving as Editor-in-Chief of Leadership and Policy in Schools, Associate Editor for two international journals, and series editor for two Routledge book series. His contributions have been widely recognized. In 2025, ScholarGPS ranked him fourth worldwide in leadership research. In 2024, he received the Linda Tillman Racial and Social Justice Award from UCEA and the Bridge People Award from AERA’s Social Justice SIG. That same year, he was named an Honorary Professor by West Attica University in Athens and selected as Texas State University’s Alpha Chi Favorite Professor. He was also named to Stanford University’s Top 2% Most Influential Scientists list in both 2023 and 2024. Additional accolades include Routledge’s Outstanding Academic Title (2021) for School Leadership for Refugees, the CIES Best Book Award (2022), AERA Division A Excellence in Research Award (2023), and the College’s Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity. He was named an Honorary Professor of International Studies at Texas State in 2023. His work continues to shape critical conversations in leadership, policy, and social justice, influencing theory, policy, and practice across borders
