She holds a Ph. D. in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy from Michigan State University. In addition, she earned an M.A. in Teaching in Middle School from Western Michigan University with an emphasis in history and a B.S. from Grand Valley State University with a Group Major in Social Studies and an emphasis in History. Prior to pursuing a doctorate, Dr. Maloley was an elementary classroom teacher. She also supervised student teachers in their field placements through both Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University. In addition to teaching social studies methods courses, she has previously taught emergent literacy and elementary science methods. She has conducted research focusing on issues of accountability and assessment in schools, particularly as these issues impact the teaching of social studies.