Dear Fellow Graduate Students,

It is a true honor to serve as Chair of the Graduate Student Council (GSC) for the American Educational Research Association for the 2025–2026 term. I’m grateful for your trust and excited to be in community with so many passionate, thoughtful scholars committed to the future of educational research.

AERA’s Annual Meeting has been a space of intellectual inspiration for me the past three years - and more importantly, a platform for building relationships, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another through the journey of graduate study. As Chair, my goals are simple: to increase communication and transparency, strengthen the sense of community among us, and ensure that graduate students feel supported and seen in the important work they’re doing.

My leadership is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and the belief that we all have something to contribute. I deeply value the voices of my peers, and I encourage you to stay connected, get involved, and share your ideas. The more we engage with one another, the more we can build a stronger, more inclusive future for educational research.

In a time of uncertainty and change, I believe in the power of collective effort. When we invest in our networks, advocate for each other, and keep our values at the center, we lay the groundwork for a more equitable and impactful scholarly community. Graduate students are not just the future of this field - we’re shaping it right now, in real time.

I invite you to join us in this work. Whether through AERA events, committee/Division/SIG involvement, or simply reaching out with a thought or question, your presence matters. Let’s continue building together.

Sincerely,

Cammie Justus-Smith