April 2026
The AERA Consortium of University and Research Institutions (AERA-CURI) held its spring convening on April 7 as a pre-conference meeting during the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting. More than 40 attendees, primarily deans and associate deans of colleges of education, gathered to discuss current priorities and pressing issues facing their institutions and the field.
The meeting opened with remarks from AERA-CURI Executive Committee Chair Kathryn Chval (Dean, College of Education, University of Illinois Chicago), who reflected on her service and framed the goals of the convening.
The first session focused on communication, with an interactive presentation from Erin Hennessy (TVP Communications) on messaging the impact and value of education research. The discussion aimed to develop shared framing around the importance of education research for diverse stakeholders. Attendees then applied these ideas in small-group case study discussions addressing common narratives about education research.
The next session turned to shared challenges and opportunities facing deans and associate deans, with participants exchanging strategies and informal feedback on institutional responses.
The convening concluded with a conversation with Na’ilah Suad Nasir, president of the Spencer Foundation, who provided updates on foundation funding and the “Enhancing Preparation of Researchers for Transformative Research in Education” initiative. Nasir also invited feedback on opportunities for deeper partnership with colleges of education.
The meeting was developed in collaboration with the AERA-CURI Executive Committee. During the session, AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous announced incoming Executive Committee members for terms beginning after the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting:
• Chair (two-year term): Chrystalla Mouza (Dean, College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) • Member-at-Large (three-year term): Paola Sztajn (Dean, College of Education, North Carolina State University) • Member-at-Large (two-year term): Paula Groves Price (Dean, College of Education, North Carolina A&T State University)
In addition, AERA-CURI and the Council of Academic Deans from Research Education Institutions (CADREI) held a joint breakfast on April 10 for informal discussion between Chavous and CADREI President Frank Hernandez (Dean, College of Education, Texas Christian University) on potential areas of collaboration. AERA-CURI members also participated in a panel offering guidance to graduate students and early career scholars.
Additional information on AERA-CURI is available on the AERA website.