December 2024

Celebrated scholar William Penuel will deliver the AERA Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture at the 2025 Annual Meeting, which will be held April 23–27 in Denver. His lecture, “Education for Flourishing: Building Initiatives and Partnerships for More Just and Sustainable Futures,” will focus on building systems for flourishing to engage young people in culturally relevant learning opportunities, strengthen families’ meaningful connections to schools, and nurture compassionate educators.

Penuel is the Distinguished Professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development in the Institute of Cognitive Science and School of Education at the University of Colorado–Boulder. His studies focus on curriculum materials, assessments, and professional learning experiences for STEM educators, as well as on how contemplative practices and critical inquiry can support educators.

“Dr. Penuel’s work in engaging young people and strengthening families brings an important perspective to this year’s meeting,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “His lecture will provide a crucial lens for building and supporting far-reaching and long-lasting systemic change.”

Penuel is an AERA Fellow and was named an Outstanding Reviewer for the American Educational Research Journal in 2022. He has published two books on research-practice partnerships: Creating Research-Practice Partnerships in Education (co-author; Harvard Education Press) and Connecting Research and Practice for Educational Improvement (co-editor; Routledge). He also co-edited The Foundational Handbook on Improvement Research in Education (Rowman & Littlefield).

The AERA Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture is one of the major events at the annual meetings. Additional information about prominent sessions will be announced in future issues of Highlights.