Prof. Joel Samoff is Adjunct Professor of Humanities and Sciences and the Center for African Studies at Stanford University. With a background in history, political science, and education, he researches and teaches about education and development. Concerned with public policy as well as research, and especially with the links between them, Prof. Samoff works regularly with UNESCO and international aid agencies involved in African education as a researcher and policy advisor. He has served as the principal advisor for the Joint Evaluation of External Support to Basic Education. He is an Advisory Editor for the International Journal of Educational Development and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Educational Research in Africa and the Southern Africa Review of Education.