Selma Baçal is Titular Professor of Sociology of Education at the Federal University of Amazonas, in Brazil. In 2002 she received her doctorate in Education from the University of São Paulo. Her research focuses on themes related to the State, Society and Education, with emphasis on Public Policy, Work and Public/Private Relations in Education. She is the author of four books and several articles in periodicals. She is currently Dean of Research and Post-graduation at UFAM/Brazil.