As Senior Research Associate for the Center for the Study of Culture and Language in Education, as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program at WestEd, Ursula Sexton conducts research and manages projects that investigate the roles that cultural diversity and language play in mathematics and science assessment development, testing, and instructional practices. She also contributes to projects involving teacher accreditation, school reform, systemic professional development, science and mathematics curriculum, access of academic content for ELLs, and the use of technology in education. She is an advisor, presenter, and writer for state, national, and international science education projects and organizations. She is a published author in science education journals, teacher textbooks and guides, and serves as editor and advisor of children’s science books and education modules.

Presently, she co-directs a NAEP mathematics study on the factors that influence achievement for Native American and Alaska Native students, works in collaboration with the READI study for Reading for Understanding initiative, the LAUSD Master Plan, and provides professional development on Making Science Accessible to English Learners. Also, she contributes to the development of simulation online science assessments for middle school students.

She was appointed as education panelist by the White House for the National Ocean Exploration Panel and the Presidential Charter for Ocean Exploration, and a leader for the National Association of Presidential Awardees. She also served on the U.S. Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Expert Panel, in the California Framework Committee, and as a reviewer of National Science Foundation programs. She has worked on projects for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Stanford University, helping to develop new criteria and evaluation measures for K-12 California teacher certification. She has helped develop large-scale science assessments, and guides in collaboration with State Departments of Education; in California for AB54- on Teacher Professional Development addressing cultural competency - a collaboration with Rockman ET AL. Evaluator, in Idaho, with the development of an integrated guide for Math and Science Educators of English Learners; for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks culturally relevant curriculum development program; and as NSF-visitor for NM Pueblo ITEST Community-Based science program.

As a former bilingual/science teacher, she coordinated and developed science programs, led professional development and curriculum reform, and taught K-14 students and teachers. She represents the profession as a California Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and a National Science Teacher awardee. She also received the WestEd Paul Hood Award for Distinguished Service.

Sexton holds a BA in biological sciences from Holy Names University. She also holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with Bilingual Emphasis (Spanish) and a Life science K-12 Certification from California State University, Hayward and has completed graduate coursework for Science Education leadership certification.