WASHINGTON, March 3, 2026 — Sylvia Hurtado, a Distinguished Professor within the School of Educational and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, has been elected as the president-elect of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). This esteemed position marks a significant milestone in Hurtado’s illustrious career, granting her a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of educational research nationwide. Hurtado will formally join the AERA Council during the 2026–2027 term as president-elect before commencing her presidency following the conclusion of the 2027 Annual Meeting. This seamless leadership transition is poised to propel forward AERA’s mission to advance education research that impacts policy and practice.
Hurtado’s research portfolio intricately investigates the complex dynamics surrounding the transition to college, emphasizing not only the empirical understanding of campus racial climates but also the intricate pathways and interventions crucial to STEM education. Her scholarship rigorously centers on equity for historically marginalized student populations and advocates institutional transformations to foster inclusivity. The technical robustness of her work is highlighted by funding from premier institutions such as the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. Additional prestigious support from the Spencer Foundation, Ford Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Gates Foundation underscores the transformative potential embedded in her research endeavors.
Her deep commitment to educational advancement extends well beyond research funding. Hurtado’s service to AERA encompasses multiple leadership roles, including her tenure as a member-at-large on the AERA Executive Board and Council from 2019 to 2022. During this period, she notably functioned as the Council’s liaison to the AERA Journal Publications Committee, facilitating rigorous peer review processes that maintain the association’s scholarly standards. Her earlier contributions involved service on the stringent AERA Nominating Committee from 2015 to 2017, where her discernment shaped the composition of the organization’s leadership and strategic directions.
Hurtado’s engagement with AERA predates her formal leadership roles, originating in her graduate school years and extending into specialized areas such as Division J—Postsecondary Education, and Division G—Social Content of Education. In addition, she has been a vital contributor to the Latina/o/x Research Issues and Mixed Methods Research Special Interest Groups, reflecting a broad methodological and substantive expertise. Her induction into the AERA Fellowship in 2011 recognized her scholarly excellence, further complemented by awards such as the 2018 AERA Social Justice in Education Award and the 2015 Division J Exemplary Research Award. Her 2021 AERA Distinguished Lecture, titled “The Inevitability of Racial Bias and Exclusion: Implications for Identity-Based Education and Practice,” provided groundbreaking insights into persistent systemic inequities and informed identity-conscious pedagogical strategies.
Since 2023, Hurtado has co-edited one of AERA’s flagship peer-reviewed journals, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, steering the dissemination of cutting-edge research that shapes educational policy at multiple levels. Her editorial leadership further cements her influence on the academic discourse surrounding educational equity, policy, and institutional transformation.
Her academic distinction is further reinforced by her election to the National Academy of Education in 2019, where she actively serves on the board of directors. Hurtado’s leadership history includes her past presidency of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in 2005 and directing major research centers such as the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education. Her decade-long directorship at UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute enabled her to significantly influence research-driven initiatives addressing higher education’s evolving challenges worldwide.
Beyond academia, Hurtado’s formative experiences growing up in a segregated community as a first-generation Latina college student have deeply informed her professional trajectory. These lived experiences inspired her early career roles as a certified teacher and advocate in college admissions and student support programs, exemplifying her belief in research as a means of empowerment and social change. This personal narrative amplifies the relevance of her work within real-world educational contexts, intertwining empirical rigor with lived realities.
As Hurtado steps into the AERA presidency in 2027, she will take over from Jerome Morris, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Urban Education at the University of Missouri—St. Louis. Morris is set to begin his presidency at the association’s 2026 annual meeting, which will be held in Los Angeles, California, symbolizing a notable handover between two eminent scholars committed to equity and excellence in educational research.
In the 2026 election cycle, alongside Hurtado’s ascension, several distinguished scholars were elected to the AERA Council as members-at-large and division vice presidents-elect. Rochelle Gutierrez of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Kimberly Griffin of the University of Maryland were chosen for their roles as members-at-large, bringing fresh perspectives during their three-year terms beginning in 2026–2027. Furthermore, four division vice presidents-elect will join the Council in 2027–2028, representing diverse domains of educational research, namely Administration, Organization, and Leadership; Learning and Instruction; Measurement and Research Methodologies; and Education in the Professions. Their upcoming tenure promises to enrich AERA’s interdisciplinary approach.
Moreover, leadership within the Graduate Student Council is set to see new vigor with the election of Olesia Pavlenko, a doctoral candidate from the University of New Hampshire, as chair-elect. Her involvement signifies the important role of emerging scholars in the future of educational research leadership and innovation.
The official and complete results of the 2026 AERA elections will be posted on the association’s website by March 6, providing comprehensive details about the outcomes and further cementing transparency and community engagement within this leading educational research body.
Founded over a century ago, in 1916, the American Educational Research Association continues to stand as the largest interdisciplinary national research organization dedicated to the scientific study of education and learning. AERA is devoted to advancing rigorous scholarly inquiry that influences education policy and practice, advocating the application of evidence-based research to improve education systems and promote social equity. The association maintains a dynamic presence across numerous digital platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky, ensuring widespread dissemination and engagement within the educational research community and broader public spheres.
Sylvia Hurtado’s election as AERA president-elect represents not only a professional achievement but a beacon for progressive educational reform rooted in empirical research, equity, and transformative institutional change. Her multidisciplinary, methodologically varied, and socially conscious body of work is an inspiring model for how educational research can advance justice and inclusivity within learning environments at all levels.
Subject of Research: Educational equity, campus racial climate, STEM education pathways, institutional transformation, and postsecondary education
Article Title: Sylvia Hurtado Elected President-Elect of the American Educational Research Association, Championing Equity and Institutional Transformation
News Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Web References: https://www.aera.net/
Keywords: Sylvia Hurtado, American Educational Research Association, AERA presidency, educational equity, campus racial climate, STEM pathways, institutional transformation, higher education research, postsecondary education, educational policy, social justice in education
