July 2024

At its June meeting, AERA Council approved restoring the Awards Ceremony Luncheon at the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting. The Awards Ceremony, implemented as a community-oriented gathering, was last held in that type of format at the 2019 Annual Meeting.

The Awards Ceremony itself is a special opportunity to honor notable accomplishments and achievements across career stages and with respect to diverse aspects of the education research field—from Distinguished Contributions to Research to Excellence in Media Reporting.

The luncheon, first introduced in 2013, quickly became a highlight of the Annual Meeting, bringing a substantial turnout and creating a sense of commitment and community in honoring the accomplishments of award winners. In addition to awardees and their special guests, the award committees and other standing committees of the Association were included in the event, with divisions, SIGs, and related academic and research institutions and universities sponsoring tables or the full event.

“The Awards Luncheon remarkably changed the tone of the previously more formal awards event where turnout was chronically low,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “In its time, it not only recognized outstanding achievements but also created a collective gathering and camaraderie among attendees."

"Ultimately, it was ended out of a concern that, while AERA and sponsors reached out broadly across the membership and anyone could attend, key elements were insufficiently inclusive,” Levine said. “We are now taking a good idea and reengineering it to put the emphasis on equity and community in holding a festive and inclusive celebration.”

Several key changes to the luncheon will promote equity. A significant focus will be providing more opportunities for graduate students and early career scholars to attend.

AERA plans to secure sponsorships from educational institutions, research organizations, and other stakeholders. Sponsors will be encouraged to allocate a substantial portion of their seats to graduate students and early career scholars.

In addition, the luncheon will feature a tiered structure for individual tickets, similar to the model used in previous years, with a reduced rate for students to ensure affordability. The tables will be mixed across the room whether attendees are joining for lunch or not. 

“Everyone on AERA Council and staff have high expectations for the new 2025 Awards Luncheon,” said Levine. “We hope to see you there.”