March 22, 2010

Three Faculty Members Named Fellows of National Education Association

Three faculty members at UC Santa Barbara have been named Fellows of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). They are among 67 scholars from around the world to be so recognized, and will be inducted on Saturday, May 1, at the organization's annual meeting in Denver.

The UCSB faculty members include Richard P. Duran and Judith Green, professors of education, and Lorraine McDonnell, professor of political science. The three were cited for their exceptional scientific or scholarly contributions to education research, and significant contributions to the field through the development of research opportunities and settings.

AERA Fellows are known nationally and internationally for their outstanding contributions to education research. Through the Fellows Program, the association aims to convey its commitment to excellence in research and to underscore to new scholars the importance of sustained research contributions in the field.

"Professors Green and Duran are so deserving of this prestigious honor," said Jane Close Conoley, dean of UCSB's Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. "Dr. Green is an international expert in research methodology. Her work in complementary methods of inquiry is considered groundbreaking, as is her recent work in the intersections of culture, learning, and technology. Dr. Duran is sought after by national and international panels for his expertise in authentic assessment practices that are responsive to our multi-cultural and pluralistic society. UC Santa Barbara is most fortunate to be home to two such outstanding scholars."

Said Melvin Oliver, the SAGE Sara Miller McCune Dean of Social Sciences at UCSB, of Lorraine McDonnell: "This honor is another indication of Professor McDonnell's national importance as an expert in the design of K-12 educational policies and the politics of student testing. Her research could not be more timely or important as the White House and Congress grapple with national education policies."

Founded in 1916, AERA is the national interdisciplinary research association for approximately 25,000 scholars who undertake research in education. The organization aims to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.