JOSEPH BECKHAM, J.D., Ph.D.

Allan Tucker Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Joe Beckham has been active as a consultant and legal counselor to school districts, institutions of higher education, and state departments of education since receiving his J.D. from the University of Florida’s Holland Law Center in 1969. In the mid-1970s, while serving as administrative counsel to Connecticut Lt. Governor Peter Cashman, he initiated and directed a comprehensive educational program for Connecticut youthful offenders that coordinated services across the state departments of education, corrections, and youth services. While completing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (UF 1977), he was a research fellow with the National Education Finance Project and later joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, working with the Higher Education Finance Research Institute.

Since coming to Florida State University in 1980, Dr. Beckham has been head of the Department of Educational Leadership (1988 to 1993) and chair of the department (1999 to 2001). In addition to his appointment to a number of state and national boards representing educators and attorneys, he was president of the National Organization on Legal Problems of Education in 1991 and was awarded the McGhehey Award for contributions to the field of education law by the Education Law Association in 1996. Florida State University has recognized him with a Teaching Incentive Program Award for excellence in college teaching (1997) and FSU Gold Key has honored him with the Ross Oglesby Award for contributions to FSU (1999). In 2001, he was awarded the first named professorship granted to the FSU College of Education, a distinction that recognizes his friend and mentor, Dr. Allan Tucker, who was a former Vice-Chancellor of the State University System of Florida.

Dr. Beckham is currently a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Law and Education and the editorial advisory committee of West’s Education Law Reporter. His vita lists over 100 publications, including books, monographs, refereed journal articles, book chapters, and invited articles. He specializes in the areas of education law and policy, organization and governance of higher education, and education finance.

Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
113 Stone Building - Tallahassee, FL 32306-4452
Phone: (850) 644-6777 ♦ Fax: (850) 644-1258 ♦ email: elps@garnet.acns.fsu.edu