AERA DIVISION A NEWSLETTER
Fall 2023
What's New in the Fall Newsletter?
The 2023 Fall Newsletter includes: a message from our current Vice President, Dr. Mariela Rodríguez; Celebrations of AERA 2023 Award Winners; Pictures from the 2023 Conference; a new Scholar Share Blog; Updates for Div A Officers: Introductions of members of the Equity, Inclusion, and Action Committee; Graduate Student Association Update including Winners of the Foster-Polite Travel Scholarships; and introduction of the Newsletter team for 2023-24.
We hope you enjoy all the features of the Fall Newsletter!
The 2023 Fall Newsletter includes: a message from our current Vice President, Dr. Mariela Rodríguez; Celebrations of AERA 2023 Award Winners; Pictures from the 2023 Conference; a new Scholar Share Blog; Updates for Div A Officers: Introductions of members of the Equity, Inclusion, and Action Committee; Graduate Student Association Update including Winners of the Foster-Polite Travel Scholarships; and introduction of the Newsletter team for 2023-24.
We hope you enjoy all the features of the Fall Newsletter!
Vice President's Message
Division A's 2021-2024 Vice President is Dr. Mariela Rodríguez. Dr. Rodríguez is a Professor and Interim Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
See Dr. Rodríguez's message to Division A members below.
You can also read the messages here: Vice President Messages
Fall 2023 Newsletter Features
equity, inclusion & action committee update
The Equity, Inclusion, Action (EIA) Committee is looking forward to another great year. Click here to see the EIA Committee members for 2023-24.
Last year, their work culminated in the successful completion of the 3rd Literature in Action book study, Stuck Improving: Racial Equity and School Leadership, led by the author, Dr. Decoteau Irby. They also developed and organized two well attended and thought-provoking sessions for the 2023 AERA Conference. The Vice-Presidential Session: Cultivating Critical Consciousness to Decolonize Educational Leadership, Research, and Praxis included a panel of invited scholars with Drs. Judy Alston, Susan Faircloth, Muhammad Khalifa, Juan Manuel Nino, and Angela Valenzuela. The second session was titled Mentorship Session: Self-Care, Healing, & Social Justice Advocacy in a (Post)COVID Context and featured invited scholars Drs. Ain Grooms, Decoteau Irby, Van Lac, Kofi Lomotey, Melissa Martinez, and Lolita Tabron.
Click here to read more about the work of the the Equity, Inclusion & Action Committee through their blog.
Last year, their work culminated in the successful completion of the 3rd Literature in Action book study, Stuck Improving: Racial Equity and School Leadership, led by the author, Dr. Decoteau Irby. They also developed and organized two well attended and thought-provoking sessions for the 2023 AERA Conference. The Vice-Presidential Session: Cultivating Critical Consciousness to Decolonize Educational Leadership, Research, and Praxis included a panel of invited scholars with Drs. Judy Alston, Susan Faircloth, Muhammad Khalifa, Juan Manuel Nino, and Angela Valenzuela. The second session was titled Mentorship Session: Self-Care, Healing, & Social Justice Advocacy in a (Post)COVID Context and featured invited scholars Drs. Ain Grooms, Decoteau Irby, Van Lac, Kofi Lomotey, Melissa Martinez, and Lolita Tabron.
Click here to read more about the work of the the Equity, Inclusion & Action Committee through their blog.
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AERA Division A 2023 Award Honorees |
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Excellence in Research Award: Dr. Khalid Arar
Khalid H. Arar, Ph.D. is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, Education and Community Leadership, School Improvement Doctoral Program, College of Education at Texas State University. His international and comparative research program is rooted at the nexus of social justice, equity, and diversity in educational leadership and policy. His research program contributes a novel, robust, and significantly to the scholarship of social justice leadership and policy and is considered impactful in enabling better understanding of educational leadership and policy for newcomer's welcome, as his research informed theory, policy, and practice in this less explored area. For the past two decades, he has conducted studies in the Middle East, Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, and the United States. His book: School Leadership for Refugees, was a winner of Routledge’s prestigious choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2021, and his book: Higher Education in the Era of Migration, Displacement and Internationalization received Comparative and International Society (CIES) Study Abroad and International Students SIG Best Book Award in 2023. At Texas State, he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of International Studies at Texas State University. Dr. Arar has served on amble of international scholarly conference boards; he is on the editorial board of 12 scholarly journals and associate editor of International Journal of Leadership in Education (Routledge), Journal of Educational Administration and History (Routledge), and Equity in Education and Society (Sage), and chief editor of Routledge: Educational Leadership for an Equitable, Resilient and Sustainable Future; Educational Policy and Leadership in the Middle East and North Africa. |
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Emerging Scholar Award: Dr. Nakia Gray-Nicolas
Dr. Nakia M. Gray-Nicolas is an assistant professor of educational leadership. Her scholarly research examines college readiness, access, and the persistence of traditionally marginalized students, distributed leadership and community engagement, and the intersectionality and experience of Black women in academia. She has presented her work at local, national, and international conferences and meetings including, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting, the University Council of Education Administration (UCEA) annual convention, and the International Conference on Education and Social Justice. Her work has been published as book chapters and articles in journals such as the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership, Journal for School Leadership, Journal of Education Human Resources in Education, Education Policy Analysis Archives, and Race Ethnicity Education. She co-edited the book (Re)Building Bi/Multilingual Leaders for Socially Just Communities. She has over 16 years of combined experience in youth services, nonprofit management, higher education administration, secondary teaching (7-12), college and graduate-level teaching, and research. |
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Emerging Scholar Award: Dr. Mollie T. McQuillan
Dr. Mollie T. McQuillan’s research focuses on the intersection of educational policy, PK-12 leadership, school climate, and the health of LGBTQ+ populations. Dr. McQuillan’s research continues to be influenced by professional experiences as a PK-12 public school teacher, varsity athletic coach, and educational leader. They are an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and is a faculty affiliate in the Interdisciplinary Training Program in Education Sciences and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research’s Collaborative Center for Health Equity. Dr. McQuillan holds a PhD in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University, where she was a Northwestern University Presidential Fellow, a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellow, and Sexualities Project at Northwestern Dissertation Fellow. They also earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and masters degrees from Northwestern and Saint Thomas University. Dr. McQuillan’s scholarship has been published in a variety of journals, such as Educational Researcher, Educational Policy, Transgender Health, Professional Development in Education, and Marquette Law Review. |
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Outstanding Dissertation Award: Dr. Cheyenne E. Batista
Dr. Cheyenne E. Batista is Founder & CEO of Firefly Worldwide Inc., an education consulting practice where she supports educators and social impact leaders with leadership development, strategy, school and program design, and equity-driven practices. Cheyenne has served as a founding school principal and superintendent, co-designing and scaling a Pre-K to 12th grade network of community-driven schools in New York City. She served in a unique “player-coach” role, for years running the flagship school, managing all school principals and teachers, and superintending strategic growth. Cheyenne has taught in K-12 and postsecondary classrooms in New York City, NY; São Paulo, Brazil; and beyond. She has also directed programs for large nonprofit and corporate entities. Cheyenne is an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University School of Education. In 2022, her dissertation was awarded the Dissertation of the Year Award from the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate. She is also a TED-Ed Masterclass keynote speaker and addresses topics pertinent to leadership, organizational culture, anti-racism and equity. First in her family to graduate from college, Cheyenne earned an Ed.D. in Education Policy & Leadership at American University School of Education; a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and an Ed.M. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard Graduate School of Education. |
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Outstanding Dissertation – Honorable Mention: Dr. Kate Kennedy
Kate Kennedy (she/her) is an associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Kate is a K-12 education policy and leadership scholar, with expertise in organizational behavior, social-emotional well-being, school districts, school choice, and assessment. Kate utilizes qualitative methods to examine pressing education issues related to equity, politics, and change. Kennedy completed her PhD in Urban Education Policy at USC in 2022, culminating in a four-paper qualitative dissertation. Kate also has degrees from Teachers College, Loyola Marymount University, and The Ohio State University. Prior to entering research and policy work, Kate was a middle school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified and Worthington City School Districts. She also worked with teachers and leaders as a professional development specialist across the U.S. Kate’s research has been published in the Journal of School Leadership, Journal of Educational Change, Phi Delta Kappan, Teachers College Record, and the American Journal of Education, among others. Kate is a mother of three children ages 3-13. |
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Outstanding Dissertation – Honorable Mention: Dr. Sarah Odell
Sarah Odell is a feminist scholar, researcher, and educator who has extensive experience working with influential women and creating gender-focused programming. A former executive intern to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sarah has also worked as an editorial assistant at HarperCollins Publishers and taught courses on female American writers and feminist theorists at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Wellesley College, Sarah earned her masters degree at the University of Pennsylvania where she authored a thesis on women and educational leadership in independent schools. Sarah completed her PhD. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Departments of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and Gender and Women’s Studies, studying gender inclusive leadership in K-12 education. Sarah currently teaches courses on gender and leadership at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the Director of Learning and Innovation Research and co-director of the Center for Gender and Ethical Leadership at the Hewitt School in New York City. |
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AERA 2023 CONFERENCE DIVISION A EVENTS
Looking Ahead: 2024 aera ANNUAL MEETING
Division A members and colleagues are looking forward to presenting their scholarly work at the 2024 AERA Annual Meeting: Dismantling Racial Injustice and Constructing Educational Possibilities: A Call to Action from April 11-14, 2024.
Division A members have submitted their proposals and reviews for papers in the following areas:
- Section 1. Leadership
- Section 2. School Organization and Effects
- Section 3. School and District Improvement
- Section 4. School Contexts and Communities
- Section 5. Leadership Preparation Development
graduate student COMMITTEE update
The Division A Graduate Student Council is happy to welcome a new junior representative, Ayse Gurdal (College of William and Mary) and a new senior communications chair, Dayna Muñiz (Temple University). We look forward to planning engaging programming for Division A graduate students. Follow us on Twitter @DivisionAGSC for updates on grad student events.
The AERA Division A Graduate Student Committee (GSC) works collaboratively in order to provide opportunities for other graduate students in the division. The goal is to strengthen and broaden the graduate school experience for Division A students. This is accomplished by disseminating information at annual AERA conference sessions and through the AERA Graduate Student listserv. Specifically, AERA Division A conference sessions are planned to help fellow graduate students navigate academic life, to provide opportunities for networking with fellow graduate students and faculty, and to offer guidance in transitioning from graduate student life to careers as professional scholars and researchers.
Meet AERA Division A GSC Leadership:
The AERA Division A Graduate Student Committee (GSC) works collaboratively in order to provide opportunities for other graduate students in the division. The goal is to strengthen and broaden the graduate school experience for Division A students. This is accomplished by disseminating information at annual AERA conference sessions and through the AERA Graduate Student listserv. Specifically, AERA Division A conference sessions are planned to help fellow graduate students navigate academic life, to provide opportunities for networking with fellow graduate students and faculty, and to offer guidance in transitioning from graduate student life to careers as professional scholars and researchers.
Meet AERA Division A GSC Leadership:
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Senior Representative: Emma Taylor, Michigan State University
Emma is a third year doctoral student in K-12 Educational Administration at Michigan State University. Before her time in East Lansing, she was a middle school math and ESL teacher in New Jersey. Her research interests include school leadership preparation, school and community partnerships, and bilingual/ESL policy implementation. She is a graduate assistant for University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) and Educational Administration Quarterly. |
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Junior Representative: Ayse Gurdal, William and Mary School of Education
Ayse is a Ph.D. student at William and Mary School of Education on the track of K-12 Leadership. Before her time in Williamsburg, she was a research assistant at Baskent University in Turkey. In her master studies, she focused on the Vibrant Schools which “foster wonder, playfulness, laughter, movement, creativity, and adventurous learning” and how school leaders in Turkey take actions to create such learning environments. Since Vibrant School Scale has its roots in US contexts, working with prominent scholars in the US on the topic brought her life great joy. She is passionate about digging more into Vibrant Schools focusing on child nature, breeding their curiosity, and emboldening their voices to foster deeper learning. She mentioned that what brings is her joy is crafting her own jewelry in her spare time while her cat tries to catch the thread with his specific "cattitude." Communications Director: Dayna Muniz, Temple University
Dayna is a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development. Her research interests center on equity-focused school leadership, the superintendency, organizational change, the experiences of minoritized educational leaders, and understanding schools as racialized organizations. She is a graduate student representative for UCEA’s Graduate Student Council and is the communications chair for AERA’s Division A Graduate Student Council. Professionally, she serves as the Associate Director of the Coalition for Educational Equity at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education where she develops equity-focused professional learning opportunities to support school districts in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. In addition, Dayna plans and executes program evaluation and technical assistance projects at the request of districts looking to better understand their systems and the experiences of students, educators, and families in their schools. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two daughters. When asked about what brings her joy, she responded, "Most recently, it was sitting in my mom's patio in El Paso and enjoying a beautiful desert night. It had just rained so the creosote was in the air and it was much cooler than other nights. It was a great memory to bring home to Philadelphia with us." You can reach her at dbmuniz@temple.edu |
2023 FOSTER-POLITE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP
Hyunjin Choi Teachers College, Columbia University
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Karena Escalante Drexel University
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Jessie Leyden Kennesaw State University
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Jamie Smiler Te Pukenga Whitireia WelTec, New Zealand
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Eos Trinidad The University of Chicago
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Rong Zhang University of Alabama
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Congratulations to the 2023 Foster-Polite Student Travel Scholarship recipients! The Division A Graduate Student Council (GSC) coordinates the annual awarding of Foster-Polite Student Travel Scholarships to the AERA Annual Meeting. Thank you to Julieta Rico, 2023 Foster-Polite Chair, for coordinating this year’s application and selection process. These student travel awards were established by the late Dr. Lenoar “Len” Foster and Dr. Vernon Polite. We appreciate the spirit of supporting students established by these educational leaders and longtime members of AERA Division A. We offer four $500 travel scholarships each year. Sincere gratitude to Dr. Linda C. Tillman, former Division A Vice President, for generously sponsoring an additional two travel scholarships for graduate students bringing the total to six scholarships awarded this year. Email Dr. Mariela Rodríguez, current Division A Vice President, at mariela.rodriguez@utsa.edu if you are interested in contributing to the Division A Foster-Polite student travel scholarships. |
scholar share
In the Fall 2023 edition of Scholar Share we highlight some recent published works as well as interesting tools and projects of Division A members. We also present a few opportunities to collaborate with other Division A members. Please check out the Scholar Share Blog page to learn more about this important research and scholarship. Like and Share!
About Scholar Share: The Division A Scholar Share is intended to highlight new, exciting, and important scholarly endeavors and provide critical insights into relevant topics in the field of educational leadership. Scholar Share offers Division A members opportunities to engage in ongoing learning, professional development, and to connect with other scholars and practitioners in the field. We invite you to share one project, research grant, leadership initiative, publication, and/or other important scholar-practitioner endeavor with Division A members. Please use this link if you would like us to post your work!
About Scholar Share: The Division A Scholar Share is intended to highlight new, exciting, and important scholarly endeavors and provide critical insights into relevant topics in the field of educational leadership. Scholar Share offers Division A members opportunities to engage in ongoing learning, professional development, and to connect with other scholars and practitioners in the field. We invite you to share one project, research grant, leadership initiative, publication, and/or other important scholar-practitioner endeavor with Division A members. Please use this link if you would like us to post your work!
Division A officers
Click here for more information about the Division A Officers.
Check our more about the Program Committee Section Chairs and Equity, Inclusion, & Action Committee members
Check our more about the Program Committee Section Chairs and Equity, Inclusion, & Action Committee members
NEWSLETTER EDITOrial team
Greetings, Division A! It's our honor to serve as the 2023-24 Division A Newsletter editorial team. Drs. Darius Stanley and Amie Cieminski are the Co-Editors of the Newsletter, and Drs. Elizabeth Gil and James Martinez are the Associate Editors. We welcome your feedback, input, and ideas! We invite all viewers to share our community newsletter widely! If you have announcements or updates, please email them to Darrius Stanley at dstanley@umn.edu to be featured in our next newsletter.
To learn more about the Division A Newsletter editors, click here.
To learn more about the Division A Newsletter editors, click here.
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Message from Outgoing Editor, Se Woong Lee
Reflecting on my journey with the Division A Newsletter team, I've come to realize that my initial motivation for joining was somewhat self-centered. In the beginning, my aspiration was to find a sense of belonging in the midst of the vastness and overwhelming nature of the AERA conference. However, this journey has yielded far more than I had anticipated. My role as Co-editor has been enlightening, affording me a profound appreciation for the tremendous effort dedicated not only to advancing our field but also to fostering an all-embracing and supportive community. Thus, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire leadership team, particularly Mariela and Detra, and all the Newsletter members, both past and present, for their hard work in nurturing this community.
To my fellow Division A members who might be hesitating or less active, I extend a heartfelt invitation to reach out and engage. You'll be amazed by the warmth and opportunities that await within Division A.
I also express my sincere thanks to Jeremy and Linsay for their invaluable guidance and mentorship, which greatly assisted Daniella and me in swiftly understanding the scope of our roles and ways to enhance the Newsletter's reach. Additionally, my appreciation extends to our current Co-editors, Darrius and Amy, for their commitment to ensuring that the Newsletter truly reflects the voices of our members. Finally, I wish to convey my deep gratitude to the Division A members for their encouragement and support. It's through our collective attention and love that our Newsletter can flourish, expanding its impact even further. In gratitude, Se Woong
Reflecting on my journey with the Division A Newsletter team, I've come to realize that my initial motivation for joining was somewhat self-centered. In the beginning, my aspiration was to find a sense of belonging in the midst of the vastness and overwhelming nature of the AERA conference. However, this journey has yielded far more than I had anticipated. My role as Co-editor has been enlightening, affording me a profound appreciation for the tremendous effort dedicated not only to advancing our field but also to fostering an all-embracing and supportive community. Thus, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire leadership team, particularly Mariela and Detra, and all the Newsletter members, both past and present, for their hard work in nurturing this community.
To my fellow Division A members who might be hesitating or less active, I extend a heartfelt invitation to reach out and engage. You'll be amazed by the warmth and opportunities that await within Division A.
I also express my sincere thanks to Jeremy and Linsay for their invaluable guidance and mentorship, which greatly assisted Daniella and me in swiftly understanding the scope of our roles and ways to enhance the Newsletter's reach. Additionally, my appreciation extends to our current Co-editors, Darrius and Amy, for their commitment to ensuring that the Newsletter truly reflects the voices of our members. Finally, I wish to convey my deep gratitude to the Division A members for their encouragement and support. It's through our collective attention and love that our Newsletter can flourish, expanding its impact even further. In gratitude, Se Woong