Michel Alhadeff-Jones

Michel Alhadeff-Jones was born in Geneva (Switzerland). He is a psychosociologist specialized in adult training and a philosopher of education. He is an independent researcher and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, in the department of Organization and Leadership. In Europe, he is currently associated to the French Laboratory of Research EXPERICE (Experience, Cultural Resources and Education, Universities of Paris 8 – Paris 13).

After having completed a Bachelor in Psychology (1998) and a Master in Psychology and Human Resources (2001), Michel worked as a Teaching and Research Assistant with Prof. Pierre Dominicé (department of Adult Education) at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Geneva (Switzerland). In parallel with his position in Switzerland, he started in 2003 a collaboration with Prof. Victoria Marsick and the Adult Learning and Leadership Program at Teachers College, first as a Visiting Scholar and then as an Instructor. In 2007, he finalized a six-year independant Ph.D. in Educational Sciences, started with Prof. Pierre Dominicé in Geneva and completed - after his retirement - with Prof. Jean-Louis Le Grand at the University of Paris 8 (with the collaboration of Prof. Jacques Ardoino, Jean-Louis Le Moigne and Edmée Ollagnier). Since then he is teaching at Teachers College as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.

Michel's core topic of research is related to way the ideas of "critique" and "complexity" have been developed in education. Based on Edgar Morin’s philosophy, his research aims both to develop an epistemological and methodological framework to design a multireferential and transdisciplinary conception of critique, conceived as a complex phenomenon, and to reflect on the learning experienced during the process of research itself. His teaching and research interests are in critical and complexity theories, French and English-speaking philosophies of education, adult learning, biographical approaches, leadership, transdisicplinarity, time studies and sciences studies.

In his teaching, the use of a biographical approach is an opportunity to develop a reflection located at the crossroad between human sciences, philosophy and everyday life experience. Among the seminars he is conducting / has conducted at Teachers College: "Life History and Critical Reflection" (2004); "Life History and Adult Learning" (since 2005); "Leadership and Self-development: A Biographical Approach" (since 2006); "Time & Learning: Developing the Rhythms of Empowerment" (2009); "Preparing Critical Literature Reviews" (2009). Michel published several papers and chapters related to these issues and is currently an editorial board member of the international French-speaking journal of adult education "Pratiques de Formation / Analyses" and "Complicity: An International Journal of Complexity and Education".

Michel is a member of the following associations and networks:
American Educational Research Association (USA)
European Institute for Research on Adult Learning and Analysis of Activity (IERFA)
European Network MCX "Modeling Complexity"
European Society for Research on Education of Adults (ESREA)
Existential and Critical Anthropology Research Group (University of Paris 8, France)
EXPERICE Research Center "Experience, Cultural Resources and Education" (Universities of Paris 8 – Paris 13, France)
International Association for the Study of Life History in Education (ASIHVIF)
International Center for Transdisciplinary Research (CIRET)
Philosophy of Education Society (USA)
Swiss French-Speaking Association on Life History in Education (Switzerland)

Contact Information

Email:

Homepage: http://implexus.ning.com/profile/MichelAlhadeffJones

Address: Teachers College, Columbia University
Department of Organization & Leadership
Adult Learning & Leadership Program
Box 50
525 West 120th Street
New York, NY 10027-6696
USA

Telephones: +1-212-678-3760
+1-212-678-3957 (fax)