Challenges emerge in the internationalisation of higher ed
Professor Emeritus Philip G. Altbach and Hans de Wit, emeritus professor of the practice, discussed the nation’s impact on international students and higher education institutions in the Boston Globe, Inside Higher Ed, and University World News.
Lynch School welcomes two dynamic new assistant professors
This semester, the Lynch School of Education and Human Development welcomes two new assistant professors, each committed to transforming lives through teaching, research, and service. Eliana Castro joins the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Society as an assistant professor of History/Social Studies Education, while interdisciplinary researcher studying cognitive mechanisms of thinking and reasoning, Gabe Avakian Orona, becomes part of the Department of Formative Education.
The most powerful teaching tool
Collecting students’ perspectives proves to be easy and valuable, revealing inaccurate assumptions that teachers may hold. Assistant Research Professor Damian Bebell shares more about his findings and its impact in a conversation with Education Week.
Charles River Collaboratory summer program spreads a love of STEM
Professor Mike Barnett led a summer program at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation that gave high school students the opportunity to dive into the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The Waltham Times reported that, through projects like smart-automated greenhouses and AI-powered farmbots, students explored how physical design and digital technology come together.
Palette of virtues
DevTech Research Group, founded by August Long Professor Marina Bers, hosted an international symposium focused on reframing computer science education to include a character-building focus.
New survey shows improvements in opinions on higher education
In University World News, Associate Professor Gerardo Blanco commented on a Lumina Foundation study, saying that the findings are encouraging for U.S. higher education. He says that colleges and universities are still seen as valuable to society and as a crucial way to gain entry to the workforce.
A potential decline in college enrollment this fall
Associate Professor Angela Boatman commented on the Trump administration’s changes to the student visa process in the Boston Globe, which warned that international student enrollment could drop by 40 percent.
Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Jaylen Brown visits the Campus School
Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown visited the Lynch School’s Campus School to spend time with students and staff members. The Campus School educates students ages 3 to 22 with extensive support needs, including complex medical needs.
Study tracks trends in adolescent health risks over two decades
Professor Rebekah Levine Coley led a longitudinal study on adolescent health trends, which highlighted the need for targeted mental health interventions. The study was published in the National Library of Medicine’s Pediatrics.
Faith Drescher receives Fulbright Scholar award
Faith Drescher ’25 (Elementary Education, Applied Psychology and Human Development) was selected as a Fulbright Scholar for the 2025–26 academic year. As a Fulbright Program English Teaching Assistant, she is in Lithuania for 10 months, serving as a classroom resource to help students learn to read and write in English.
Lynch School welcomes new Cawthorne Millennium Professor
Stella M. Flores was named the John E. Cawthorne Millennium Chair and professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education. Her research focuses on college access and success across the K–20 pathway. Read more in BC News and The EDU Ledger.
Challenges arise for international students
Professor of the Practice Chris R. Glass weighed in on mounting challenges for international students in or planning to come to the United States in Inside Higher Ed and BBC News.
Meaningful Work
At the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Social Concerns, Chris Higgins, associate professor and chair of the Department of Formative Education, participated in a discussion on Meaningful Work in Conversations on Character and the Common Good series. Higgins also contributed to the Institute’s August issue of Virtues & Vocations magazine, which also focused on meaningful work.
Jackson advocates for a Newburyport Teen's Fight for Free Public Education
The Boston Globe interviewed retired Associate Professor Richard Jackson in a story about a Newburyport teen, whose public school has denied her access for more than three years. Jackson advocates for students with disabilities, emphasizing their needs within the classroom and the importance of accessibility.
The job market for new grads
Professor Emerita Maureen Kenny shared insights on how city policymakers and corporations can attract and retain recent graduates in a WalletHub Q&A.
Lynch School to introduce Transformative Education Lab
The Transformative Ed Lab is a hub for research on holistic, formative human development, and the curation of educational approaches that both support young people’s development as whole persons and prepare them to pursue purposeful lives. Deoksoon Kim will lead the lab, supported by a postdoctoral student. The steering committee includes faculty with relevant expertise from the Lynch School and the broader University.
Dancing with the Students
In 2005, University Trustee Susan Martinelli Shea ’76 founded the community-based dance education program Dancing with the Students (DWTS). This April, Professor Deoksoon Kim presented research at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting, demonstrating that DWTS supports whole-person learning and development in immediate and long-term ways.
Kim launches organization to protect adoptee records
Oh Myo Kim, associate professor of the practice, launched Emergency Action for Records Storage (EARS), a community-based group dedicated to ensuring the safe and fair transfer of adoptee records from adoption agencies to the NCRC in South Korea. She discusses her research that led to the launch with News1, Pressian, and SBS News.
Addressing at-risk youth
One in every eight young adults (18-24) in America is unemployed and not enrolled in school, placing them at higher risk of poverty, early pregnancy, and violence. Professor Jacqueline V. Lerner explained the crisis and explored the multifaceted strategies she developed to reengage at-risk youth in WalletHub.
The fight over federal funding
In July, Associate Professor Raquel Muñiz commented on Harvard University’s legal battle with the Trump administration on CBS News Boston.
Loper Bright ruling reshapes balance of power in education
Associate Professor Raquel Muñiz analyzed the Supreme Court’s ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, highlighting how it bolsters the Court’s authority over legal interpretation and curtails federal agencies’ executive power in shaping education policy, in a Brookings article.
Importance of college access
As college costs rise, more students choose community colleges as a starting point. Associate Professor Raquel Muñiz emphasized in a WalletHub article that access to academic support and career readiness is crucial for student success and urged policymakers to expand local resources to support this trend.
National organizations partner to promote literacy
Museum educator Ashley Naranjo ’07 (Human Development) co-authored an article in Smithsonian magazine on the collaboration of national organizations, such as Amazon, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, NFL Inspire Change, and the Smithsonian, as they came together to encourage excitement around reading. An event in Seattle provided more than 1,250 books to youth and libraries.
Initiative cultivates Catholic education leaders across Ireland
The Lynch School’s Roche Center for Catholic Education and Boston College Ireland partnered on a new program aimed to cultivate a new generation of mission-driven leaders for Catholic primary and post-primary schools across the Emerald Isle.
2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award
Kyle Shachmut, Ph.D. ’25, received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). The AHEAD Outstanding Dissertation Award recognizes exemplary doctoral research connected to disability in higher education.
Innovation and AI, the challenge of putting humans at the center
Brian Smith, David S. Nelson Chair and associate dean for research, shared his insights at the Business Ethics Summit and discussed the need for ethics and a system of universal principles. The Summit was held at Vatican City in June.
Alum receives two awards for research in survey methodology
Red Paulin, M.S. ’25 (Applied Stats and Psychometrics) is shaping the future of data collection through exploring critical issues in survey design and data integrity. At the Eastern Evaluation Research Society conference, Paulin received a Student Award for his critical evaluation of survey data biases. At the American Association for Public Opinion Research conference, Paulin received the Burns “Bud” Roper Fellow Award, which recognizes early-career researchers in survey or public opinion.
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Institute on AI, pedagogy, and curriculum
Nelson Chair and Associate Dean for Research Brian Smith was part of an interdisciplinary team from Boston College that participated in the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum. Read more in EdTech Innovation Hub.
Joseph White Distinguished Alumni Award
Professor Usha Tummala-Narra received the Joseph White Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University’s College of Social Science. The award celebrates alumni whose outstanding accomplishments and contributions set them apart in their field.
Understanding narcissistic personality disorder
The New York Times highlighted Professor Usha Tummala-Narra for her expertise on understanding narcissism.
Helping people live mindfully and intentionally
Erin Waxenbaum ’16 (Elementary Education), who cofounded Prep and Reflect, a company that develops mindful journals and planners, discussed finding a sense of purpose in Bold Journey.com.
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CPED elects Stanton Wortham as new chair
Dean Stanton Wortham was elected as the new Chair of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Board of Directors. CPED is a network of more than 150 schools and colleges of education that examines the degree to ensure that graduates have the skills and knowledge to drive meaningful improvements in the field of education and beyond.
Research on Edtech post-COVID by scholars, includes Lun
“A New Era in EdTech: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities,” is an editorial in ECNU Review of Education by Professor Deoksoon Kim; Katrina Borowiec, M.A. ’10 (Higher Education), Ph.D. ’25 (Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment); and Dean Stanton Wortham. They highlight how educational technology has rapidly evolved in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscored the new roles it has played in modern classrooms across the globe.
Supporting students with Down syndrome in Saudi Arabia
Zaina Zedan ’03 (Elementary Education and Human Development) is CEO of Saut, an early intervention and educational program in Saudi Arabia focused on supporting students with Down syndrome so they can live their full potential.
Global metacognition research
At Boston College, Nord Anglia Education teachers shared initial findings, practical strategies, and the real-world impact of classroom-based metacognition projects in a June conference. The studies were conducted as part of Nord Anglia’s two-year Metacognition Research Project, in collaboration with the Lynch School.
Rising in the U.S. News rankings
The Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development improved to 20th overall this year, a three-spot increase over last year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings. The school also had strong placements among specialty programs, with Student Counseling ranked ninth, Curriculum and Instruction ranked 13th, Elementary Education ranked 16th, and both Education Psychology and Education Policy ranked 20th.
NextGen STEMFest
The inaugural NextGen STEMFest, hosted by Professor Michael Barnett and his research team—in collaboration with Boston College’s Engineering Department—brought together more than 20 organizations, including the Boston College Hatchery, Boston Dynamics, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The event highlighted the importance of community-based STEM research while celebrating 75 years of funding support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
ScratchJr turns 10
The DevTech Research Group hosted a 10th birthday celebration for ScratchJr, an interactive learning platform (with more than 57 million users) designed to teach children coding. The party featured a Q&A session with founders Mitch Resnick and Augustus Long Professor of Education Marina Bers.
Lynch School expert shares insights on international student visas
Associate Professor Gerardo Blanco comments to WGBH about 17 current and former international students from Harvard and UMass whose visas were revoked in April: “The changes are unprecedented and represent a new breakdown in communication between the government and higher education.”
New Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Studies in International Education
Gerardo Blanco, associate professor and academic director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Studies in International Education (JSIE). His vision for the publication builds on its strong foundation while embracing new possibilities to advance scholarship in international higher education.
The implications of a Fulbright freeze
In the midst of federal budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, Gerardo Blanco and alumna Marisa Lally, Ph.D. ’24 (Higher Education), contributed an opinion piece about the Fulbright Program budget freeze in Times Higher Education. Their piece emphasizes the importance of the program, which they say has always been “bipartisan,” in fostering international academic exchange.
A “chilling” time in higher education
In University World News, Associate Professor Gerardo Blanco and alumnus Haishan (Sam) Yang, M.A. ’19 (Higher Education), write about the higher education climate, which they describe as “chilling.” Their opinion piece discusses international student visas, funding cuts, and campus free speech.
New research about intercollegiate, interdisciplinary, human-centered design
An interdisciplinary collegiate culture not only enhances the learning environment for students—it also contributes to the ongoing development of faculty, says new research by Associate Dean Julia DeVoy and colleagues, published in the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Lynch School Professor receives prestigious honor
Professor Shaun Dougherty was selected for the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers by the Institute of Education Sciences—the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on early-career scientists and engineers.
Dougherty leads the charge in bridging education and policy
The Heights, Boston College’s independent student newspaper, sat down with Professor Shaun Dougherty to discuss his appointment to the U.S. Department of Education.
Faculty Research Showcase explores housing policy and student homelessness
Professor Rebekah Levine Coley—who is also Director of the Center for Children and Family and the Gabelli Family Faculty Fellow at the Lynch School—and Assistant Professor Earl Edwards presented research on how housing policy and student homelessness impact educational equity at the Faculty Research Showcase.
The Future of Black Educators Summit
The inaugural Future of Black Educators Summit—co-hosted by Assistant Professor Earl Edwards, the Lynch School’s Institute for the Study of Race and Culture and Housing and Educational Equity Lab, and the Your Neighbor Foundation—included a keynote address and interactive workshops led by Boston College alumni Charles Grandson ’05, M.A. ’06 (Curriculum and Instruction), Ed.D. ’14 (Educational Leadership) and Dominique Williams ’14. The event was a platform for conversations on nurturing, empowering, and sustaining Black educators in American education.
Losing international students could devastate colleges
In The New York Times, two community members—Professor of the Practice Chris Glass and alumnus Xiaofeng Wan, M.A. ’13, Ed.D. ’24 (Higher Education)—shared their insights about the impacts of the Trump administration's policies on international students in higher education. “It’s an unprecedented situation that we’ve never seen before," says Wan.
Universities have a chance to lead in shaping AI’s future
"If universities are to lead in shaping AI’s future, they must boldly champion open collaboration, ethical governance, and knowledge-sharing that transcends ideological divides," says a Center for International Higher Education team, including Professor of the Practice Chris Glass and Lynch School doctoral students, in commentary for University World News.
An outstanding academic title
Choice, a publishing unit of the Association of College and Research Libraries, named Associate Professor Chris Higgins’ new book, Undeclared, to its 2024 Outstanding Academic Titles list. The list reflects “the best in academia, bringing with it the extraordinary recognition of the academic library community.”
Formative education takes center stage in the Lynch School’s newest department
Personal reflection and purpose-driven action are the hallmarks of formative education at the Lynch School. Dean Stanton Wortham and Associate Professor Chris Higgins spoke to LearningWell about the mission behind the Lynch School’s Department of Formative Education.
Centering inclusively designed digital curriculum materials
How can educators and policymakers ensure that students with reading disabilities, particularly those in K-12 settings, are provided with equitable access to inclusively designed digital curriculum materials? Associate Professor Richard Jackson shares his insights with Faculti.
Lynch School study finds a link between community at school and students’ well-being
Educators strive to support their students academically, socially, and emotionally. But when their students have parents who are struggling with depression, that task becomes more challenging. However, new research by Lindsay Lanteri, Ph.D. ’27 (Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology) and Professor and Gabelli Family Faculty Fellow Rebekah Levine Coley suggests that feeling connected at school could make a world of difference.
New research on adolescent behavioral and mental health published in Pediatrics
Over the past two decades, a far lower proportion of adolescents have engaged in high-risk behaviors like violence, substance use, and sexual activity. Explore the findings from research authored by Professor Rebekah Levine Coley and Lindsay Lanteri, Ph.D. ’27, published online in Pediatrics.
The building blocks of math that students need to excel—but aren’t always getting
How does income influence childrens’ number sense and problem-solving skills when learning math? Associate Professor Elida Laski’s research, featured in The Hechinger Report, reveals that higher-income students use more advanced problem-solving strategies than their lower-income peers.
Professor A. Lin Goodwin joins the National Academy of Education
Thomas More Brennan Professor A. Lin Goodwin is one of 22 education leaders and scholars who has been elected to the National Academy of Education—a prestigious organization that advances high-quality research to improve education policy and practice.
Fostering a sense of purpose
Professor and Ascione Faculty Formation Fellow Belle Liang is leading the charge for students, faculty, and staff to find purpose and belonging at Boston College. Committed to empowering others to find their true calling by collaborating with student and academic affairs and the Division of Mission and Ministry, Liang uses her research to promote formative education across campus. Read more in The Heights.
From connection to crisis
How worried should we be about the impact of social media on today’s young people? To answer that question, the Boston College Magazine podcast featured Associate Dean of Faculty & Academic Affairs, Ana Martínez-Alemán, who discussed her timely research on mental health in the digital age.
Building a path to healing from trauma
After discovering her passion for trauma counseling as a Lynch School master’s student, Rebecca Nelson ’14, M.A. ’16, empowers clients on their journey toward healing and recovery in her own private practice.
The evolution of Black student enrollment in higher education
Associate Professor Raquel Muñiz, highlighted in The Heights, delved into the evolving landscape of Black student enrollment in higher education, focusing on how Supreme Court cases have impacted students of color on college campuses. Drawing on her legal expertise, Muñiz advocated for intentional efforts to increase diversity.
Prof. Katherine McNeill named 2025 NARST Fellow
The honor of becoming a 2025 NARST Fellow—a mid-career award presented by the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST)—celebrated Professor and Bryk Faculty Fellow Katherine McNeill’s transformative contributions to K–12 science teaching and learning.
International collaboration drives inclusivity
Trinity College Dublin hosted Professor Martin Scanlan for a conversation about his research on inclusive schools. He discussed the importance of recognizing and addressing exclusionary barriers in schools and developing a comprehensive approach to social justice, highlighting the relationship between schools and families as crucial to building inclusive environments.
A roadmap for equity-focused schools
How can schools empower the next generation to recognize and challenge injustices? A new book co-authored by Professor Scott Seider, alumna Julia Bott ’02, M.Ed. ’07, Ed.D. ’24 (Educational Leadership), and Harvard Lecturer Aaliyah El-Amin, offers a powerful roadmap.
Featured Lynch School speaker at Harvard Divinity School
Joining a panel of esteemed scholars at Harvard Divinity School, David S. Nelson Chair and Associate Dean for Research, Brian K. Smith, discussed the complex intersection and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in religion.
Promoting diversity in psychoanalytic research
Professors Usha Tummala-Narra and Michael Russell are now members of the Holmes Commission on Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis. Their work, recognized by Division 39 of the American Psychological Association, was honored with the Diversity Award for outstanding contributions to advancing diversity in psychoanalytic research.
Dean Wortham weighs in on Boston College’s next leader
Dean Stanton Wortham emphasized the compassionate approach of Rev. John T. “Jack” Butler—Boston College’s next president—in supporting both students and faculty holistically, in comments about BC’s new leadership to The Heights.
The future of education and human development
Faculty at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development are exploring innovations and trends in their fields. From advancements in technology to evolving teaching methods and shifts in funding models, our faculty shared their insights on the transformative changes shaping the field.
Improving mental health on college campuses in India
First-year Lynch School graduate student, Aayushi Shah, M.A. ’26 (Mental Health Counseling) is changing the game for mental health support in India with her company, Adapt Wellness. Shah connects individuals with licensed mental health professionals based on their needs, budget, and the level of expertise they’re looking for—all through an intuitive app.
Cami Kulbieda ’26 leads change for LSEHD students
The Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) and the Division of Student Affairs launched a new initiative to provide free Charlie Cards to Lynch School and Connell School of Nursing students facing high financial need for their practicum and clinical experiences. The program, spearheaded by Cami Kulbieda '26 (Elementary Education and Applied Psychology), UGBC’s academic affairs committee chair, aims to ensure that all students have access to essential learning opportunities without financial stress.
Lynch School student elected to serve as the next UGBC president
Cami Kulbieda ’26, is the 2025-26 UGBC president, coming out on top in a three-ticket election. “I cannot express enough how much I appreciate all that this community has given me in my three years here, and am committed to make the strongest impact I can with the time I have left,” Kulbieda reflected in an interview with The Heights.