January 2024

Celebrated scholar Gloria Ladson-Billings will deliver the AERA Distinguished Lecture at the 2024 Annual Meeting, to be held April 11–14 in Philadelphia. Her lecture, titled “‘Not Yet at Plessy’: 70 Years Post-Brown,” will begin at 11:25 a.m. ET on Friday, April 12.

Ladson-Billings, professor emerita in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is known for her groundbreaking work in the fields of culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory, and on the deleterious effects of systemic racism and economic inequality on educational opportunities.

“Dr. Ladson-Billing’s cutting-edge scholarship connects directly to this year’s theme, ‘Dismantling Racial Injustice and Constructing Educational Possibilities: A Call to Action,’” said AERA President Tyrone Howard. “We are thrilled for the opportunity to hear her insights and learn from her wisdom.”

“As one of the pioneering scholars in the areas of culturally relevant teaching, systemic racism, and economic inequality, Dr. Ladson-Billings will challenge and inspire attendees in this year’s Distinguished Lecture” said AERA Executive Director Felice Levine.

Ladson-Billings served as AERA’s president from 2005 to 2006 and is an AERA Fellow. She is also the recipient of several AERA awards, including the 2018 Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award, the 2015 Social Justice in Education Award, the 1996 Palmer O. Johnson Memorial Award, and the 1995 Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution Award. She served as president of the National Academy of Education and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the British Academy.

Ladson-Billings is the author of the critically acclaimed books The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children and Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms, and numerous journal articles and book chapters. She is the former editor of the American Educational Research Journal and a member of several editorial boards.

The AERA Distinguished Lecture is one of the major events at the Annual Meeting. Additional information about prominent sessions will be announced in the February issue of Highlights.