Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
First elected to Congress in 1992, the Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson has tirelessly championed diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education and the workforce. She has worked in a bipartisan manner to promote research and data collection to help develop strategies to increase participation of women and minorities in STEM. She championed the America COMPETES Act and other legislation emphasizing research and data use to inform National Science Foundation policy and programs and federal funding for STEM research and infrastructure. As current chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, she has prioritized understanding and addressing sexual harassment in science.
The Distinguished Public Service Award recognizes an individual who has worked to enact or implement policies that were well grounded in education research, or who has been at the forefront of efforts to increase recognition and support for education research.
The award is given by members of AERA’s Government Relations Committee, on behalf of the Association. It was established in 2002 and presented for the first time on April 23, 2003 during AERA’s 84th Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Award recipients present a major address at AERA’s Annual Meeting, where the annual award is presented.
2019 - George Miller 2018 - Donna E. Shalala 2017 - Michael W. Kirst 2016 - Shirley Malcom 2015 - Joseph Conaty 2014 - Ruby Takanishi 2013 - Freeman A. Hrabowski III 2012 - Jerry D. Weast 2011 - Emerson J. Elliott 2010 - Beverly L. Hall 2008 - Bruce Alberts 2007 - Jack Jennings 2005 - Ronald A. Wolk 2004 - Richard C. Atkinson 2003 - James B. Hunt