Albro Appointed IES Commissioner of NCER; Other Education Appointments Confirmed

July 2018

Elizabeth Albro was appointed to serve as commissioner of the National Center for Education Research (NCER) at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). She began her new role on July 9. Prior to this appointment, she served as the associate commissioner for teaching and learning at NCER. Albro has also been involved in several large-scale research efforts at IES, including the Reading for Understanding Research Initiative. She was a principal author of U.S. Department of Education Plan and Policy Development Guidance for Public Access: Improving Access to Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research and is a member of the Interagency Working Group on Open Science.

Prior to joining IES in 2002, Albro held faculty positions at Whittier College and Wheaton College (Norton, MA). Albro holds a B.A. in the behavioral sciences, an M.A. in the social sciences, and a Ph.D. in psychology, with an emphasis on cognition and communication, all from the University of Chicago.

“We wish Albro success in this new position,” noted AERA Executive Director Felice Levine. “She has substantially contributed to the important work of IES over many years. We welcome her continuing to do so as NCER commissioner.”

Albro succeeded Tom Brock, who will become the new director of the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, on September 1.

Read Albro’s AERA Highlights Q&A here.

Additional appointments to leadership roles in the Department of Education have been confirmed by the Senate:

On June 25, Frank Brogan was confirmed by a voice vote to be Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education. Brogan was most recently chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and previously served as Florida commissioner of education.
On July 16, Scott Stump was confirmed on an 85–15 vote to be Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Stump was most recently chief operating officer of Vivayic, Inc., and previously served in several positions with the Colorado Community College System, including as assistant provost for career and technical education.
On July 17, James Blew was confirmed by a 50–49 vote to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. He was director of Student Success California and directed K–12 reform investments for the Walton Family Foundation.