Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

Catherine C. DiMartino, Ph.D., a professor at St. John’s University, recently moderated a session for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Leadership Committee Meeting. The session, titled “The Federal Role in Supporting Rigorous and Relevant Education Research,” took place on October 26 in Washington, DC. It focused on how federal initiatives can enhance the quality and relevance of educational research to tackle significant issues within American education.

AERA is recognized as one of the leading organizations for educational research in the United States. It aims to advance knowledge and support evidence-based policies and practices in education. The session included notable figures such as AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine, Ph.D.; Walker Swain, Ph.D., Principal Researcher at the Learning Policy Institute; and Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D., Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. They emphasized the critical role of federal backing in promoting impactful research across educational institutions nationwide.

Dr. DiMartino is currently serving as the program chair for AERA's leadership team and is preparing for the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting under the theme “Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal.”