Division A’s Graduate Student Activities and Resources
Purpose: AERA Division A Graduate Student Representatives work collaboratively with one another and the committee members in order to provide opportunities for other graduate students in the division. The goal is to strengthen and broaden the graduate school experience for Division A students. This is accomplished by disseminating information at annual AERA conference sessions and through the AERA Graduate Student listserv. Specifically, AERA Division A conference sessions are planned to help fellow graduate students navigate academic life, to provide opportunities for networking with fellow graduate students and faculty, and to offer guidance in transitioning from graduate student life to careers as professional scholars and researchers.
Senior Graduate Student Representative: ALEXANDRA PAVLAKIS, the current Senior Representative, is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alexandra’s research interests include student homelessness, suburban poverty, student mobility, and policy implementation. She can be reached at [email protected]
Junior Graduate Student Representative: KATE ROLLERT, the current Junior Representative, is a doctoral student at Michigan State University. Kate’s research interests include teacher labor markets, urban teacher preparation programs, and polices that increase the supply and quality of teachers in high-poverty, urban schools. She can be reached at [email protected]
Current 2013-2014 Division A Graduate Student Committee Members:
· Ashley McKinney (University of Utah)
· Priya Goel (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
· Kathryn Torres (University of Washington)
Activities: There are two main Division A Graduate Student projects each year. First, at least two sessions are planned specifically for graduate students at the annual AERA conference. Second, Division A and Division L graduate student representatives co-host a session at the annual UCEA conference and Division A hosts an additional session at UCEA as well.
AERA: Fireside Chat: At AERA, each graduate student division plans a Fireside Chat with a focus on the current conference theme from the perspectives of the division. Scholars with known expertise on the topic are invited to facilitate the discussion. Questions and comments from graduate students are encouraged. The 2014 Division A Fireside Chat is titled, “Challenging perceptions of youth: How research can guide educational leaders in their work with young people”.
AERA: Research Roundtables: Beginning with the 2012 conference, Division A graduate students were able to offer a session titled “The Graduate Student Roundtable Dialogic Forum” for emerging research by graduate students. This session provided graduate students an opportunity to share their emerging work with other students and scholars and receive feedback and suggestions. A call for proposals for this roundtable is sent out on the AERA Graduate Student listserv each November, applications are due mid-December, and selected applicants are informed in late January.
UCEA: Finally, the AERA Division A and Division L graduate student representatives also submit proposals to UCEA each year. For the UCEA 2013 conference we co-hosted a breakfast session with Division L graduate students, titled “Publishing 101.” Division A also hosted its own session, titled “Having it all, finding the perfect work/life balance.”
Resources: AERA Division A also runs a travel award for graduate students. Additional opportunities are circulated via the graduate student listserv and our Facebook page.
Foster-Polite Scholarship: In addition to planning sessions for graduate students at UCEA and AERA, the Division A graduate student representatives also coordinate the selection of recipients for the Foster-Polite Graduate Student Scholarship. This scholarship supports graduate student travel to the annual AERA conference. Graduate students who are the first author on a proposal accepted for presentation at AERA are eligible to apply for this travel award. This year four $500 scholarships will be awarded. Application information is posted on the AERA Graduate Student listserv in late November and selected applicants are informed in early February.
Facebook page: New this year is the GSC Division A Graduate Student Council Facebook page. The Facebook page is a great way to keep informed of upcoming Division A Graduate Student Events and opportunities. Please “like” us on Facebook to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/AeraDivisionA?ref=br_tf
Opportunities for involvement:
There are lots of ways to get involved with Division A graduate student activities with varying levels of commitment. Graduate students are encouraged to contact the senior or junior representative for more information about opportunities to get involved with Division A graduate student activities. The contact information for the Senior and Junior Representatives are: Alexandra Pavlakis at [email protected] and Kate Rollert ([email protected]).