August 2023

AERA member Nathan (Nate) Jones has been named the new commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER). Jones is an associate professor in the Special Education Program at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. He is a current member of Divisions K and L. He served as a section chair for Division K and was on the Committee on Scholars and Advocates for Gender Equity in Education.

NCSER, one of four centers within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), supports research on infants, toddlers, children, and youth with or at risk for disabilities by advancing the understanding of teaching, learning, and organizing education systems.

“We applaud this appointment by IES and extend our enthusiastic congratulations to Dr. Jones,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “We look forward to working together to advance innovative, high-quality research that supports and improves special education.”

Jones’ research focuses on the intersection of education policy and classroom teaching, particularly regarding special education.

“I look forward to the fresh perspective that Nate will provide to NCSER,” said IES Director Mark Schneider, in a social media post. “His expertise in computer and data sciences is particularly valuable for our work at a time when we are seeing rapid developments in technology and an escalating need for cutting-edge research about students with or at risk for disabilities.”

Jones received his doctorate in special education and education policy from Michigan State University.