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Awards

Division A gives out three awards annually in recognition of members’ achievements and contributions consistent with the Division’s purpose and priorities and AERA’s policies and priorities. The three awardsÌýare as follows.

Outstanding Dissertation Award

This award is given by the division to recognize outstanding dissertation research appropriate to the field, including the leadership, organization and administration of schools and the preparation of educational leaders. Studies embracing both traditional and alternative conceptualizations and methodologies are welcomed.

Outstanding Dissertation Award

• 2026 -- Dr. Tanya E. DaMommio, Assistant Professor , Texas State University
• 2026 -- Dr. Anna Jackson, Assistant Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University (Honorable Mention)
• 2024Ìý-- Dr. Meghan ComstockÌý(Awardee), The University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Racquel L. ArmstrongÌý(Honorable Mention), The Ohio State University; Dr. Kimberly L. SterinÌý(Honorable Mention), Drexel University
• 2023 --ÌýDr. Cheyenne E. Batista (Awardee), Firefly Worldwide, Inc.;ÌýDr. Kate Kennedy (Honorable Mention), RAND Corporation;ÌýDr. Sarah Odell (Honorable Mention), The Hewitt School
• 2022 -- Dr. Joonkil Ahn (Awardee), doctorate from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Dr. Mariama Nagbe (Honorable Mention), doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Portia Newman (Honorable Mention), doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University
• 2021 --ÌýDr. RenéÌýEspinoza Kissell (Awardee); Dr. Julie M. KalloÌý(Honorable Mention); Dr. Alexis Patrice Little (Honorable Mention)
• 2020 --Ìý Dr. Phillip A. Smith,Ìý Columbia University (awardee);Ìý Dr. Mollie McQuillan,ÌýÌýNorthwestern University (Honorable Mention)Ìý Ìý;Ìý Dr. Shaneé Washington, Boston CollegeÌý(Honorable Mention)Ìý Ìý
• 2019 --Ìý
• 2018 -- Laura E. Hernández (awardee);Ìý Anne Lackritz (Honorable Mention); Amanda Heffernan (Honorable Mention)Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý
• 2017 -- Lauren Bailes
• 2016 -- Steven Courtney
• 2015 -- Huriya Jabbar
• 2014 -- John Meyer
• 2013 -- Jessica Rigby
• 2012 -- Catherine O'Brien
• 2011 --ÌýAnish Sayani
• 2010 --ÌýMary de Leon-Denton andÌýKaren Moriyama
• 2009 -- Vicki Park

Emerging Scholar Award

This award is given by the division in recognition of a pre-tenure scholar who is in the first five years of her his/her career in the professorate and who has made outstanding contributions to the field of leadership, administration, or organizational theory.

Emerging Scholar AwardÌý

• 2026 -- Dr. Huang Wu, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri - Kansas City
• 2026 -- Dr. Cynthia Gallardo, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M International University (Honorable Mention)
• 2026 -- Dr. Shannon Waite, Assistant Professor, Howard University (Honorable Mention)
• 2026 -- Dr. Matthew McCluskey, University of Vermont (Honorable Mention)
• 2024Ìý-- Dr. Osly J. Flores, (Co-Awardee), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign;ÌýDr. Jeff Walls, (Co-Awardee), Washington State University
• 2023 --ÌýDr. Nakia Gray-Nicolas, Queens College &ÌýDr. Mollie T. McQuillan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2022 --ÌýDr. Elizabeth Leisy Stosich, Assistant Professor, Fordham University
• 2021 --Ìý Dr. Miriam Ezzani; Dr. Jason Salisbury
• 2020 -- Dr. Carrie SampsonÌý– Assistant Professor, Arizona State University (doctorate from UNLV)Ìý& Dr. Yinying WangÌý– Assistant Professor, Georgia State University (doctorate from University of Cincinnati)
• 2019 -- Dr. Yi-Hwa Liou, National Taipei University of Education; Dr. Jessica G. Rigby, University of Washington; Dr. Rachel Roegman, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• 2018 -- Dr. Angela Urick
• 2017 -- Dr. Terrance Green
• 2016 -- Dr. Melissa Martinez
• 2015 -- Dr. Morgaen Donaldson and Dr. Moosung LeeÌý
• 2014 -- Dr. Sarah Diem
• 2013 -- Dr. Jill Koyama
• 2012 -- Dr. Alex Bowers
• 2011 – Dr. Sonya Douglass Horsford
• 2010 – no award
• 2009Ìý– Dr. GeorgeÌýTheoharisÌý

Excellence in Research Award

This award is given by the division in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of administration, organizational theory, or leadership.

Excellence in Research Award

• 2026 -- Dr. Carol Mullen, Professor, Virginia Tech University
• 2026 -- Dr. James Spillane, Professor, Northwestern University (Honorable Mention)
• 2024 -- Dr. Meredith I. Honig (Co-Awardee), University of Washington; Dr. Muhammad Khalifa (Co-Awardee), The Ohio State University; Dr. Sarah Diem (Honorable Mention), University of Missouri-Columbia
• 2023 --ÌýDr. Khalid Arar, Texas State University
• 2022 --ÌýDr. Michelle Young, Dean,ÌýSchool of Education, Loyola Marymount University
• 2021 -- no award
• 2020 -- Dr. Charol Shakeshaft,ÌýVirginia Commonwealth University
• 2019 -- no award
• 2018 -- no award
• 2017 -- no award
• 2016 -- Martha McCarthy, Loyola Marymount University
• 2015 -- Megan Tschannen-Moran, William and Mary
• 2014 -- Phillip Hallinger,Ìý Chulalongkorn University, ThailandÌý
• 2013 - no award
• 2012 -ÌýPerry Zirkel, Lehigh University
• 2011 – Kenneth Leithwood, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
• 2010 – no award
• 2009 - Joseph Murphy, Vanderbilt University

Foster-Polite Winners

2026 --ÌýCarrie A. Mitchell,ÌýUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
2026 -- Jennifer Gaul, University of Washington
2026 -- Charo Darwin, Claremont Graduate University
2026 -- Leslie, Ellis, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign