August 2025

Dear AERA Members,  

I’m thrilled to have joined AERA this month as your new executive director and grateful for the warm welcome I’ve already received from so many of you. My early conversations with Council, staff, and members have reinforced what I’ve long known from my years as an AERA member: this is a community deeply committed to advancing education research for the betterment of students, families, communities, and society. 

I believe in the power of strategic collaboration and am eager to work alongside you to build a vibrant and impactful future for our organization and field. Our greatest strength lies in the commitment, passion, and broad and deep expertise of our members, and I look forward to engaging with you to learn about your ideas, supporting your work, and thriving as scholars, practitioners, and leaders in the field and achieving our shared goals together. 

I also want to express my sincere thanks to Felice Levine for her many years of outstanding leadership and dedication. Her vision and tireless work have strengthened AERA in countless ways and positioned us for exciting opportunities ahead. 

In these first months, I will be listening closely and working to learn more about our history, to understand our challenges, to learn about the diverse experiences, perspectives, and needs of our members, and to identify opportunities for advancing our mission in new and meaningful ways. These are challenging times for our field and our nation, but together we can build on our strong foundation to meet the current moment and take bold steps forward that make a difference.  

With appreciation, 
 
Tabbye M. Chavous 
Executive Director