December 2023

AERA is reaching out to all members and committed friends of education research to urge end-of-year giving to broaden the participation of graduate students in need. AERA seeks contributions to support the AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship Fund and the 2024 Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund.

“Both of these funds are bedrock to the association’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to our core commitment to advancing the next generation of scholars and education research leaders in our field,” said AERA Executive Director Felice Levine. “Contributions large and small can make a material difference in helping to ensure the vitality of these programs.” 

For more than three decades, the Minority Dissertation Fellowship Fund has aimed to build capacity, diversity, and inclusion in the field by providing financial support and professional development opportunities to outstanding graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds. Currently, the Fellowship supports up to six students at the dissertation stage with a $25,000 award. Donations will help support an increase in the size of the awards that Minority Dissertation Fellows receive.

The 2024 Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund provides support to AERA graduate student members who wish to attend the 2024 AERA Annual Meeting but face financial challenges to doing so. For the 2023 Annual Meeting, AERA provided much-needed financial support to more than 100 students—totaling more than $70,000—for the Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Primarily through an email campaign, the association seeks contributions to these two dedicated funds. AERA invites Highlights readers to give now and join with the association in investing in the next generation of a broad, diverse, and engaged scholarly community.