2026 Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award

• In Event: 2026 AERA Awards Ceremony and Luncheon

Abstract

Vivian L. Gadsden is recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award. An internationally renowned scholar of child development, family engagement, and educational equity, Dr. Gadsden has reshaped how our field understands the intersections of race, culture, and learning. Her groundbreaking scholarship on family literacy, African American fathers and families, and community-based research has bridged rigorous inquiry with transformative policy and practice. She founded the National Center on Fathers and Families and co-led the Penn Early Childhood and Family Research Center. An AERA past president, former editor-in-chief of Educational Researcher, and current vice president of the National Academy of Education, Dr. Gadsden’s career exemplifies scholarly excellence, visionary leadership, and an enduring commitment to justice in education.

Authors

• Vivian L. Gadsden, University of Pennsylvania

• Shaun R. Harper, University of Southern California