Alumni Spotlight: Meghan Orman Takes Research to New Heights at Bezos Family Foundation

Community-focused research is her guiding principle

School of Education alumnus Meghan Orman (PhD ’24) never imagined her career would take her from once teaching philosophy as an adjunct instructor to now becoming one of the first Jackie Bezos Researchers in Residence at the Bezos Family Foundation.

But looking back, she sees how each step of her journey—a trail rooted in community engagement and a commitment to educational equity—prepared her for the role at the influential philanthropic organization.

Upon receiving the offer from the Bezos Family Foundation, her reaction was pure disbelief.

“The whole time, I kept thinking there must have been some mistake as to why I was moving forward,” she said, adding it was “classic imposter syndrome.”

Yet as the interview process continued, Orman recalls the foundation’s team asking the right questions about the state of education and what kind of research was needed to advance equitable educational opportunities.

“I knew I was in the right place,” Orman said.

A Unique Path to Impact

Orman’s unconventional journey reflects her interdisciplinary approach to education and research.

Before earning her PhD in applied developmental psychology from the Pitt School of Education, she spent nearly a decade teaching philosophy at the University of North Florida and working with children in schools and afterschool programs. She also earned her Montessori infant/toddler credential and spent four years as a toddler teacher. She even spent some time teaching middle school English in Thailand.

“My work has always been rooted in community,” says Orman, who was the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Alumni PhD Dissertation Award at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education Distinguished Alumni Awards this past spring. “Growing up in a small rural village where decisions were often made to us or for us—but rarely with us—shaped my deep commitment to ensuring that all the work I do is in partnership with communities, building on their strengths and honoring their wisdom,” she added.

Upon arriving at the School of Education, Orman found a program that not only welcomed her community-focused values but actively encouraged them. The Applied Developmental Psychology program was designed with translation and impact in mind, allowing her to stay deeply connected to communities while developing as a researcher.

“It was a place where I could grow into a researcher without compromising my values,” Orman said. “My colleagues in the Department of Health and Human Development challenged me to see the ‘whole child’ in every conversation and in every environment— in schools and in out-of-school and community spaces.

“Leaders like (former) Dean Valerie Kinloch and Renée and Richard Goldman Dean Eboni Zamani-Gallaher modeled what it looks like to lead institutions with integrity and a living, breathing mission for justice,” she said.

Working closely with her advisor, School of Education Associate Professor Shannon Wanless, Orman developed her expertise in equity-driven research. The experience also opened unexpected doors: with support from Pitt’s Frederick Honors College, she was awarded a Fulbright-National Science Foundation Arctic Research Grant, which allowed her to conduct research in Iceland on sustainability in early childhood education as part of her dissertation.

Bridging Research and Practice

Orman most recently served as a Postdoctoral Associate in Cornell University’s Division of Nutritional Sciences, where she contributed to statewide initiatives supporting early childhood educators through community-based interventions focused on health and well-being.

Now, as one of two inaugural Jackie Bezos Researchers in Residence, Orman brings a research lens to the foundation’s vision of ensuring young people have access to strong support systems and quality educational opportunities.

“It is a two-way relationship: research can illuminate and strengthen the vision, and the vision can guide and inspire the kind of research we pursue,” Orman said.

In her new position, Orman will expand research investments in critical areas including advancing participatory research, strengthening the pipeline of early-career scholars from historically marginalized backgrounds, and helping bridge the gap between research and practice.

A Foundation Built on Values

Reflecting on her journey, Orman credits her time at the School of Education with helping her see that “rigorous scholarship and deep humanity do not have to be separate—they can inform and strengthen one another.”

The relationships she built and the mentorship she received gave her confidence to belong in spaces that she once doubted were for her.

“Pitt and the SOE is where I found the courage to knit together my personal story, my professional expertise, and my lifelong commitment to creating thriving ecosystems for children and communities,” she said.

As she embarks on this new chapter in philanthropy, Orman remains focused on her core mission: “supporting children, families, and educators by building ecosystems where they can thrive.”