Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.
— The 2025–2026 College of Education Research Fellows have been announced. This program is designed to support faculty as they pursue high-impact research and secure external funding. Over the next year, these scholars will take part in a robust grant development academy, peer mentoring groups and receive dedicated undergraduate research assistance. The following faculty members have been recognized: Angelique Aitken, assistant professor of special education; Marcela Borge, associate professor of learning, design and technology (LDT); Janice Byrd-Badjie, associate professor of counselor education; Javier F. Casado Pérez, assistant professor of counselor education; Julia Green Bryan, professor of counselor education; Mariah Harmon, assistant professor of education; Ty Hollett, associate professor of LDT; Maria Lewis, associate professor of education policy and leadership; Wilson Okello, associate professor of higher education; Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg, assistant professor of special education; Priya Sharma, associate professor of LDT; and Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton, assistant professor of counselor education.
— Two College of Education graduate students are awardees of Fox Endowment scholarships from the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School: Cory Brautigam, a doctoral candidate in curriculum and instruction; and Daisy Rodriguez, a doctoral candidate in education policy studies. The scholarships, made possible through the $20 million commitment from Jeff and Ann Marie Fox, are designed to help students pursue excellence in their research and other academic endeavors. Brautigam will be using scholarship funds to travel to Houston, Texas, to better understand the impacts of the Texas Education Agency’s takeover of the Houston Independent School District.
— Janice Byrd-Badjie, associate professor of counselor education, co-authored two chapters to a text, "Interventions for Anti-Oppressive Clinical Supervision: Navigating Critical Praxis" — “Socioecological Advocacy and Activism Through Collective Action"; and “Redistributing Social, Cultural, and Political Capital Through Access and Opportunity.”
— Several College of Education faculty members have articles published in the second edition of the Handbook of Education Policy Research — the largest volume published in the American Educational Research Association’s history — which addresses a variety of policy and contextual issues in early childhood, K–12, and postsecondary education: Adrienne Dixon, department head of Education Policy Studies; Erica Frankenberg, professor of education and demography; David Gamson, professor of educational theory and policy; Maria Lewis, associate professor of education; LaWanda Ward, associate professor of higher education, African studies, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
— Amber Cesare, assistant professor of education in the Center for Science and the Schools, was named Outstanding Informal Educator 2025 as part of the Renewable Energy Education Awards granted by KidWind Project, an international leader in clean energy education. The Renewable Energy Education Awards recognize the outstanding work that educators and industry leaders are doing to support renewable energy education at all levels to help ensure a diverse and qualified workforce.
— Rohitha Edara, a doctoral student in the Department of Education Policy Studies, authored a recently published article, “Extent, patterns, and geographic scale of caste-based segregation in Indian schools” in International Journal of Educational Development.
— Allison Fleming, associate professor of counselor education, and rehabilitation and human services, is co-author of an article, “Addressing Ableism in Rehabilitation Counselor Education,” recently published in Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Journal. Fleming also co-authored an article, “Data-informed Collaboration in Transition Services: A Model for Improving Outcomes” in Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.
— Mariah Harmon, assistant professor of education, recently presented at the Division of International Special Education and Services Annual Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. She presented emerging work with Mildred Boveda, associate professor of special education.
— Jessica Henry, teaching professor of rehabilitation and human services, is lead author of a new article, “Navigating Identity and Resilience: Supporting Black Women With Multiple Sclerosis" in the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Byrd-Badjie and Aisha Lee, assistant professor of education, are co-authors on the paper.
— Dana Mitra, professor of education, is lead author of a new paper, “Encouraging Teacher Readiness for Designing Student Voice Practices,” in Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education.
— At UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning event on July 3 in Shanghai, Esther Prins, professor of lifelong learning and education, helped bring global attention to the power of inclusive family and intergenerational education. As co-editor of Family and Intergenerational Literacy and Learning: International Perspectives, Prins delivered a video address emphasizing the importance of moving beyond research centered on high-income, English-speaking countries. Hosted by UNESCO and East China Normal University, the event gathered international scholars to discuss global trends and local innovations in intergenerational learning.
— LaWanda Ward, associate professor of education and director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education, is one of two faculty members who have been selected for the inaugural Faculty Affairs Residency Program by the Office of Faculty Affairs. During the residency, which will begin in spring 2026, Ward will focus on analyzing data from the COACHE survey to help identify actionable strategies for enhancing the faculty experience. Her scholarship on equity in higher education, academic freedom and justice-oriented policy offers essential perspective for understanding and addressing the needs of Penn State faculty.
"College of Education News" highlights accomplishments by faculty, staff and students in the College of Education, including publications; research presentations at conferences and workshops; and awards and fellowships. Please share your news with us and your colleagues by emailing edrelations@psu.edu.