Her current research explores how undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds negotiate race, class, and gender while participating in culturally focused performing arts groups. She is also interested in how educators are formally prepared to work with students from diverse race and class backgrounds and how educators address issues of race, class, and gender inequity in schools. Dr. Deckman's research and teaching interests broadly include teacher education, urban education, diversity in higher education, gender and sexuality in K-16 schools, qualitative research, and social justice and education.