Two professors from Florida State University’s Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences have received national recognition from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for their research contributions.
Nicole Patton Terry, director of the Florida Center for Reading Research and Olive & Manuel Bordas Professor in the School of Teacher Education, was awarded the 2026 AERA Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award. Lara Perez-Felkner, Professor of Higher Education and Sociology and affiliated faculty member in the Department of Sociology, received the 2026 AERA Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award. Both will be honored at the AERA annual meeting on April 9 in Los Angeles.
Damon Andrew, dean of Anne’s College, said: “Drs. Perez-Felkner and Patton Terry are exceptional members of Anne’s College, and I am so proud of their contributions to their fields. These awards are a testament to their dedication to excellence and their achievements in advancing education research.”
The AERA is focused on promoting scholarly inquiry related to education and encouraging the use of research to improve educational outcomes.
Patton Terry’s award recognizes collaborative projects between researchers and practitioners that have had sustained effects on educational practice. Her work centers on young learners who face challenges with language and literacy achievement. She has received support from organizations such as the Institute of Education Sciences, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Spencer Foundation, and William T. Grant Foundation.
“This award reflects my conviction that public research universities are uniquely positioned to work alongside their communities in ways that leverage our research to advance positive outcomes,” Patton Terry said. “I am honored to have collaborated with so many partners in our schools in communities to make that mission a reality and I humbly accept this award on behalf of us all.”
Perez-Felkner’s award acknowledges her research into gender equity within education. Her studies use developmental and sociological approaches to examine how opportunities for postsecondary access and success are shaped, particularly within STEM fields like engineering and computer science. Her work has been published in several academic journals and supported by funders including the National Science Foundation, Sloan Foundation, and Spencer Foundation.
“I’ve been fortunate to do this work in community with my very first students here at FSU and still today, as well as incredible colleagues nationally and internationally,” Perez-Felkner said. “I’ve been able to communicate findings to audiences including secondary and postsecondary faculty and staff, public audiences and scientific groups like CERN. This is a great honor from our largest professional association in the field of educational research that I’ve been part of since graduate school. It’s humbling to be recognized in this way, and I’m honored and motivated to continue.”
Both professors join Shouping Hu—Lou & Elizabeth Bender Endowed Professor—as recent recipients of AERA honors from Anne’s College; Hu was named one of 34 exemplary scholars for the 2026 class of AERA Fellows last week.
Anne’s College was ranked No. 5 among public institutions for Best College for Education in America according to Niche’s 2026 rankings, placing eighth nationally overall.
More information about Anne’s College can be found at annescollege.fsu.edu; details about AERA are available at aera.net.
