September 2023

AERA Fellow Lloyd Bond died on September 28. Bond was a leading innovator in the field of psychometrics. His groundbreaking work, particularly for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, was credited for strengthening teaching standards across the United States. He was recognized widely for his research on the assessment of teaching ability, the cognitive processes underlying standardized test performance, and bias in testing.

In 2011, former AERA President Andrew Porter presented Bond with a Presidential Citation for his invaluable contributions to educational measurement. The Lloyd Bond Charter School in South Chicago is named after him.

Bond, who grew up in South Chicago, was driven by the belief that every child has potential to make a difference in the world—potential that could be nurtured by effective educators and education systems. 

In a 2021 profile by his alma mater, Hillsdale College, Bond said, “We often hear that ‘the world was like this when I came into it; I can do nothing about it.’ There is no basis whatsoever for a person’s (especially a young person’s) belief that he must leave the world as it was when he first opened his eyes to it.”

Bond served AERA in many capacities, not the least of which were his multiple stints on the Test Standards committee. He also served on the Minority Fellowship Selection Committee, the Task Force on Fellows, the E. F. Lindquist Award Committee, the Fellows Committee, and the Review of Research Award Committee. He was a member of Division D–Measurement and Research Methodologies.

“Lloyd was just one of the finest scholars, colleagues, mentors, and friends to so many in education research,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “He was among a set of exceptional senior scholars who embodied every dimension of excellence, integrity, colleagueship, humor, and human kindness. He will be very much missed and fondly remembered.”

Several education research leaders provided comments on Bond and his legacy.

• “Lloyd Bond was a deep and thoughtful scholar, whether focusing on measurement, fairness, or statistical analysis. He projected love and joy in his work, warmth and support for his colleagues, and unfailing commitment to strategies to change education. He was avid about jazz, in fact, all kinds of music. I will miss his irrepressible wit, blessedly shown in jokes and lightning-fast comedic takes in the midst of tedious work.” – 2006-07 AERA President Eva Baker, Distinguished Research Professor, University of California, Los Angeles 
   
• “Lloyd Bond was a brilliant methodologist who truly knew how to 'explain the numbers.' But more than his keen understanding of what it meant to quantify, he was a man whose zest for life let you know that it wasn't just about the quantifiable . . .  it was about the quality of living. I will miss his incredible sense of humor and deep caring for people!” – 2005-06 AERA President Gloria Ladson-Billings, Professor Emerita, University of Wisconsin—Madison
   
• “Lloyd was a wonderful person, great psychometrician, great friend, and a really great guy. Great dancer, too. He made us all better and the world a better place!” – 2001-02 AERA President Andrew Porter, Professor Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania
• “As a psychometrician, Lloyd Bond applied scientific principles to address the most formidable challenges associated with testing in pursuit of fairness and evidence-based methods to inform the elimination of bias in assessment. He approached his research with a deep sense of empathy, humor, and an unwavering commitment to enhancing the human experience. He epitomized the finest qualities of the Southside of Chicago—intellectual prowess, sophistication, and zest for life. I am grateful for our interactions within AERA circles and the evaluation community.” – 2007-08 AERA President William F. Tate, President, Louisiana State University
• “Lloyd Bond was an important figure in educational measurement, especially in the areas of bias and fairness in testing—areas we continue to deal with today. He is also warmly remembered for his friendly, down-to-earth manner.” – National Council on Measurement in Education President Michael Walker, Distinguished Presidential Appointee, Educational Testing Service

Bond earned his PhD in psychology from Johns Hopkins University, specializing in psychometrics and quantitative models. During his career, he held positions at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and was a visiting professor at Stanford University. He was a fellow of the American Psychological Association.