UK College of Education advances research conversations at AERA
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2026) — Several from the University of Kentucky College of Education took part in the world’s largest gathering of education researchers at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
The event, widely recognized as a premier showcase for groundbreaking scholarship, featured the work of 31 representatives from the UK College of Education.
“Sharing leading-edge research on a national stage helps ensure the important work happening at UK is part of the conversations shaping the future of education,” said UK College of Education Dean Nick Pace. “Our scholars are not only contributing ideas and evidence that influence policy and practice across the country, but they are also bringing partnerships and innovations back to Kentucky through connections made at AERA. And those discoveries make their way into daily practice that improves lives."
UK College of Education scholars shared their work at AERA through speeches, paper sessions, round table discussions, symposiums, and poster presentations.
“Our college’s strong and ongoing involvement in the American Educational Research Association’s efforts to turn evidence into impact reflects our commitment to advancing education for students throughout Kentucky and beyond,” said UK College of Education Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Community-Engaged Scholarship Melinda Ickes, Ph.D.
During the annual meeting, Virginia R. Downing, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies, received an honorable mention for her dissertation from the AERA Family, School and Community Partnerships special interest group.
To learn more about the scholars listed below or contact them about opportunities to collaborate, search for their profiles on Scholars@UK.
UK College of Education scholars who had their work featured at AERA include:
Department of Early Childhood, Special Education and Counselor Education
- Whitney S. Hanley, Ph.D., round table session, paper session
Department of Educational Leadership Studies:
- Virginia Downing, Ph.D., round table session
- Sylvia L. Mendez, Ph.D., round table session
- Amanda U. Potterton, Ph.D., symposium, round table session, paper session, invited speaker session
Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation:
- Adam Kho, Ph.D., Charters and School Choice SIG (officer), roundtable session
- Olukemi Olubunmi Kolawole, Ph.D., paper session, round table session, poster session
- Jungmin Lee, Ph.D., roundtable session
- Ty C. McNamee, Ed.D., paper session (discussant), Rural Education SIG (officer)
- Zitsi Mirakhur, Ph.D., symposium
- Shannon Sampson, Ph.D., roundtable sessions, paper sessions, symposium, poster session
- Jamar Green (student), symposium, symposium (chair)
- Isaiah Moore, Ph.D., (post-doctoral scholar), symposium, roundtable session
- Mary Littlepage, (Ph.D. student at the time of AERA, now Ph.D.) - roundtable session
- Jamar Green (Ph.D. student), session chair
Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology
- Jennifer Burris (student), round table session
- Jaylene Patterson (student), paper session, poster session, round table session
Department of Teaching and Learning:
- Lisa Amick, Ed.D., round table session (chair)
- Susan Cantrell, Ed.D., round table session
- Kun Huang, Ph.D., virtual poster session
- Robin Jocius, Ph.D., round table, paper session
- Cindy Jong, Ph.D., paper session
- Rebecca McNall Krall, Ph.D., paper session
- Margaret Rintamaa, Ed.D., round table session
- Jennifer A. Wilhelm, Ph.D., paper session
- Lin Xiang, Ph.D., paper session, round table session
- Ozge Yalciner, Ph.D., paper session
- Segun Timothy Ajose (student), round table, paper session
- Meenu Devi (student), symposium
- Temidayo Jaiyesimi (student), symposium
- Mary K. Littlepage (student), round table
- Ehimwenma Orobator (student), round table
- Cameron Richards (student), round table