Professor Moderates AERA Leadership Session

Catherine C. DiMartino, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at St. John’s University, served as the moderator for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Leadership Committee Meeting session, “The Federal Role in Supporting Rigorous and Relevant Education Research.” The session, held on October 26 in Washington, DC, examined how federal initiatives can strengthen the quality and applicability of educational research to address key issues in American education.

“I was thrilled to moderate this panel,” said Dr. DiMartino. “The featured speakers provided wonderful insights that gave seasoned scholars a deeper understanding of the infrastructures supporting education research and how AERA interacts with the federal government.”

AERA is one of the premier organizations for educational research in the United States, dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering evidence-based policies and practices in education. The session featured prominent voices in the field, including AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine, Ph.D; Walker Swain, Ph.D., Principal Researcher at the Learning Policy Institute and a former AERA Congressional Fellow; and Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D., Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. They highlighted the importance of federal support in driving impactful, evidence-based research initiatives across educational institutions nationwide.

“The School of Education celebrates faculty like Dr. DiMartino, whose leadership with AERA exemplifies our commitment to impactful scholarship, collaboration, and educational advancement,” said Katherine C. Aquino, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership, and Associate Dean for Innovation and Partnerships.

As the current program chair for the AERA leadership team, Dr. DiMartino is actively preparing for the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting, “Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal.”