September 2025

AERA President Maisha Winn recently appointed new members to AERA award committees. The AERA Awards Program celebrates the best in education research, honoring scholars and changemakers whose work drives innovation and transforms classrooms, communities, and policy. Award committee terms are usually two years, with award committee members appointed each year by the president for open positions.

“We are excited to welcome the new members of AERA’s award committees,” said AERA Executive Director Tabbye M. Chavous. “Identifying award recipients who exemplify outstanding scholarship, breadth of contributions, and service to the field across career stages would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of our volunteer award committee members.”

The award committees with their new appointments are listed below. View the full roster of each committee by clicking the links.

• Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award
  • Mark Anthony Gooden (Teachers College, Columbia University), Chair-Designate
  • Vajra M. Watson (University of Redlands)
  • Casey Philip Wong (Georgia State University)
• Dr. Felice J. Levine Distinguished Contributions to Mentoring in Research and Leadership Award
  • Janelle T. Scott (University of California, Berkeley), Chair
  • Amy Stuart Wells (Bank Street College of Education), Chair-Designate
  • Tracey Terece Flores (University of Texas at Austin)
  • Shaun R. Harper (University of Southern California)
  • Lois Weis (University at Buffalo–SUNY)
• E. F. Lindquist Award
  • Uma Jayakumar (University of California, Riverside)
• Early Career Award
  • Tara J. Yosso (University of California, Riverside), Chair-Designate 
  • Ramon Antonio Martinez (Stanford University)
  • Noreen Naseem Rodriguez (Michigan State University)
• Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award
  • Lalitha Vasudevan (Teachers College, Columbia University), Chair-Designate
  • Maisie L. Gholson (University of Michigan)
  • Pedro E. Nava (Santa Clara University)
• Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award
  • Vaughn W.M. Watson (Michigan State University), Chair-Designate
  • Hilda Borko (Stanford University)
  • Limarys Caraballo (Teachers College, Columbia University)
• Outstanding Book Award
  • Ebony O. McGee (Johns Hopkins University), Chair-Designate
  • Erika C. Bullock (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
  • Eujin Park (Stanford University)
  • Xueli Wang (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
  • Vincent D. Willis (University of Alabama)
• Outstanding Public Communication of Education Research Award
  • Guofang Li (University of British Columbia), Chair-Designate 
  • Darnel Degand (University of California, Davis)
• Palmer O. Johnson Memorial Award
  • Catherine P. Bradshaw (University of Virginia), Chair
  • Nora Dominguez (University of New Mexico)
  • Sharim Hannegan-Martinez (University of Michigan)
  • Yuane Jia (Rutgers University)
  • Na Lor (Teachers College, Columbia University)
  • Sadhana Puntambekar (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
  • Kristen A. Renn (Michigan State University)
  • Erica O. Turner (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
  • Alina A. Von Davier (Duolingo)
• Review of Research Award
  • Antonio L. Ellis (American University), Chair-Designate
  • Edward R. Curammeng (California State University, Dominguez Hills)
  • Carolyn D. Herrington (Florida State University)

The Distinguished Public Service Award is selected by the Government Relations Committee, the Scholars of Color in Education Awards by the Scholar of Color in Education Committee, the Social Justice in Education Award by the Social Justice Action Committee, and the Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award by the Committee on Scholars and Advocates for Gender Equity in Education. New appointments for these committees were announced in August.

AERA is seeking nominations for the 2026 AERA Awards. The submission deadline for the 2026 AERA-wide awards is Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT. To be eligible, all nominations must be submitted electronically through the AERA APPLY portal by the deadline.