Successful Year in the U.S. News Rankings
Lynch School is #19 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Graduate School rankings. Six Lynch School speciality programs earned top-20 spots in rankings for student counseling, curriculum and instruction, educational administration, and elementary, secondary, and higher education.
2026 Social Justice Teaching Award
Associate Professor Lauri Johnson received the 2026 Social Justice Teaching Award from the Leadership for Social Justice SIG, AERA. Presented by UCEA president-elect Miriam Ezzani, the award serves as recognition of Johnson’s outstanding social justice teaching in the field of educational leadership.
Lynch School Professor Selected as AERA Fellow
Professor Eric Dearing was selected as one of the 2026 AERA Fellows by the American Educational Research Association. Founded in 1916, the AERA program honors outstanding education scholars who demonstrate excellence in education research. Dearing is also executive director of the Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children.
Doctoral Student Selected for Prestigious GEDI Program
Ph.D. student Nishat Akhi (Curriculum & Instruction) researches systems-change approaches to the expansion of higher education access for displaced and refugee learners. She secured an internship with the AEA Graduate Education Diversity Internship Program (GEDI), which placed Akhi with Intention 2 Impact (I2I), a social impact consulting firm.
Vincent Cho Elected Member-at-Large of SIG Executive Committee of the AERA
Associate Professor Vincent Cho was elected Member-at-Large of the SIG Executive Committee of the AERA. A former teacher and administrator, Cho’s research explores how technologies and data systems shape school leadership and decision-making.
AERA Names New Editorial Team for Educational Researcher
AERA named Associate Professor Andrés Castro Samayoa as a co-editor of Educational Researcher for 2027–2029. During his term, Samoyoa will bring visionary leadership to one of the field’s most influential journals.
Beauchemin Receives 2026 AERA Award
Assistant Professor Faythe Beauchemin received the 2026 Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Narrative Research Special Interest Group (SIG). The award honors early-career researchers for their work demonstrating outstanding accomplishments in the area of narrative research, nationally or internationally.
Casalini Elected Member of ICHU
Endowed Chair in Jesuit Pedagogy and Educational History Cristiano Casalini was elected to the International Commission for the History of Universities (ICHU), an association that unites distinguished global scholars recognized for excellence in historical research on universities and higher education. This accomplishment underscores his significant contributions to early modern and Jesuit education studies.
Integrating Early Learning STEM Activities in Healthcare Environments
Can interactive AI tools bridge the gap between physicians and families while empowering the next generation of learners? Professor Eric Dearing collaborated with the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative to bring voice-dictated tablet activities to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
Baking the Perfect Pi
Benjamin Delwiche ’14 (Secondary Ed & Mathematics), M.Ed. ’15 (Curriculum & Instruction) transformed his dual passions for mathematics and baking into a thriving social media platform and a cookbook that unpacks the science behind standout sweets.
Educating Boys for a Changing World
Anthony Docanto ’19 (Applied Psychology and Human Development), M.Ed. ’21 (Secondary Education), was appointed Principal of Boston College High School, where his Boston College education will continue to shape his commitment to cura personalis, or care for the whole person.
The Age of Fast Fashion
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Students Julia DeVoy and a team of researchers shared how incredibly cheap clothing available at the tap of a screen has come to dominate the apparel industry, leaving behind a trail of harm on the planet.
Surprising Strategy that Keeps Students Engaged
What if the key to better academic outcomes wasn't more classroom time, but rather connecting learning to real life? Professor Shaun M. Dougherty shared his thoughts on the Quality Matters podcast via Youtube.
Reversing Enrollment Declines through MassReconnect
Research led by Shaun M. Dougherty examined the implications of Massachusetts making community college free for adult learners—and the early results are striking. Dougherty and colleagues explore how the policy is shifting access, participation, and the future of community colleges statewide.
The Relationship Between Career Readiness and CTE Programs
Professor Shaun M. Dougherty discussed the growing importance of career and technical education (CTE) programs amid rising tuition costs and skill shortages. In EdTech Magazine, Dougherty expanded on evolving CTE offerings, providing valuable insight into the evaluation of career-readiness programs. In The Hechinger Report, Dougherty notes the effectiveness of vocational schools in keeping boys on track to graduation.
BC’s 44th MLK Scholarship Banquet
Assistant Professor Earl Edwards, a researcher of racism and homelessness among K-12 students, scholar of educational leadership, and human rights advocate, was the keynote speaker at the 44th Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet.
Lynch School Alumni Earn National Early Career Research Honor
Carly Gilson, M.Ed. ’11 (Curriculum and Instruction), and James Sinclair, M.A., ’09 (Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology), M.A., ’11 (Mental Health Counseling), were awarded the Council for Exceptional Children Division Research’s Martin J. Kaufman Distinguished Early Career Research Award.
New Research on Immigrant Educational Rights
Cawthorne Millennium Chair and Professor Stella M. Flores explores how legal access impacts K-12 attendance. Drawing on district data, the study unpacks how the 1982 Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court decision transformed the reality of undocumented student participation.
Are All Aspects of Shift in Higher Ed Positive?
Faculty members Chris Glass, Hans de Wit, and Philip G. Altbach highlighted in University World News the accelerating shift in global higher education from the traditional dominance of the Global North toward increased influence from the Global South, particularly China and other Asian countries.
The Academic Study of Christian-Jewish Relations
Scholars from around the world gathered at Boston College for a three-day conference in March to explore the evolving field of Christian-Jewish relations, aiming to better define its scope, methods, and key questions. Holly Hoffmann, a doctoral student in the department of Formative Education, offered reflections on the event’s final day.
IEA Bruce H. Choppin Award
Dihao Leng, Ph.D. ’24 (Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment) received the IEA Bruce H. Choppin Award in honor of her contributions to research in educational assessment.Leng’s work on international assessments looks beyond test scores, focusing on how students engage with exams to better understand test-taking behaviors and identify the root causes of educational disparities.
A Spiritual Hackathon
Augustus Long Professor of Education Marina Bers and Professor and Ascione Faculty Formation Fellow Belle Liang led an interdisciplinary exploratory development experience. This event hosted 24 BC students, focusing on helping them find purpose in their lives; part competition and part research study.
‘Macho’ Countries Aren’t Happy Places to Live
Professor James Mahalik and Michael Harris, M.A. ’19, Ph.D. ’26 (Counseling Psychology) are behind new research showing that countries with stronger pressure on men to prove masculinity tend to have lower life expectancy, reduced economic output, and overall declines in well-being.
Senior Reflections: Tushar Nag ’26
In a BC News profile of a graduating senior, aspiring emergency psychiatrist Tushar Nag ’26 (Applied Psychology and Human Development) credited his variety of leadership roles on campus, and cura personalis as his motivation to be the best leader and advocate he can be.
Where Theology Meets Technology
With a complex background in education, theology, and ministry, Elizabeth Olson, M.S. ’26 (Data Science), developed an AI-powered tool that helps users navigate the Catechism of the Catholic Church, answering the call from Pope Leo XIV to bring the church into the modern era. Her project bridges traditional Catholic doctrine with artificial intelligence.
Three Degrees, One Mission: Pruitt to Lead Easton Public Schools
Crissy Pruitt ’97 (Elementary Education), M.Ed. ’98 (Curriculum and Instruction), Ed.D. ’26 (Educational Leadership), was named the next superintendent of Easton Public Schools in Massachusetts.
2026 Most Affordable Online Catholic Colleges
Professor Martin Scanlan was featured as an expert contributor in OnlineU’s “2026 Most Affordable Online Catholic Colleges” guide. Scanlan expands upon the reality of online Catholic colleges and offers key considerations for prospective students when evaluating options.
Five Ways to Teach Critical Thinking in Challenging Times
Professor and Buehler Faculty Fellow Scott Seider co-authored an article on practical strategies educators can use to nurture students’ critical thinking and agency even amid curricular restrictions and challenging times.
2026 G.R.A.C.E Colloquium
Boston College will host the 2026 G.R.A.C.E. Colloquium. A globally recognized scholar of migration and education, Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, will present the keynote session, exploring how formative holistic education can meet the challenges of mass displacements, climate change, and social fragmentation.
AERA-NSF Dissertation Grants Awarded to Two Lynch School Doctoral Students
Jeneve Swaby and Yerin Yoon, two doctoral students in the Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment program, were awarded dissertation grants by the AERA-NSF to help support their research.
Transforming Culture at South Portland High School
Scott Tombleson, M.Ed. ’18 (Educational Leadership), brought a people-centered approach to his role as principal of South Portland High School by transforming the school’s faculty culture.
Top 10 Most-Cited of 2024
Monan Professor in Education Matthias von Davier, executive director of TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, co-authored an article on AI and LLMs in assessment that was named one of the top 10 most-cited articles of 2024 in Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice.
Visit to University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia hosted Lynch School Dean Stanton Wortham and Professor Deoksoon Kim for two lectures on May 29. Learn more about these exciting presentations.
Formative Service Learning Spring Break in Iceland
Boston College Lynch School undergrads spent spring break in Iceland on a mission-driven Compass Path experience. One group partnered with a local organization to support Ukrainian refugees, while another assisted with environmental sustainability initiatives that protect Iceland’s unique and fragile landscapes.
In an AI World, Human Skills Matter Most
A global study conducted by Nord Anglia Education in partnership with the Lynch School examined how metacognitive instruction strengthens the human skills most essential in an AI-driven world.
Graduate Research Symposium
Six Lynch School master’s and doctoral students gave oral presentions of their scholarly work at Boston College’s annual Graduate Research Symposium and 11 Lynch School students had poster presentations.
Roche Center Earns the NCEA’s Innovations Award
The Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education received the Dr. Karen M. Ristau Innovations Award, an annual honor that recognizes an individual, school, or initiative that has advanced the mission of Catholic education through an inventive approach or program.
Analyzing Nobel Prizes in science
In University World News, Professor Emeritus Philip Altbach and Tessa DeLaquil, M.A. ’19, Ph.D. ’24 (both in Higher Education) analyze the 2025 Nobel Prizes in science, pointing out how long-term investments in research by universities and nations remains crucial to major scientific breakthroughs and questioning the threat of current political or funding trends. DeLaquil is an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Literacy rates are dropping, could this approach be the solution?
With a nationwide drop in literacy, many schools debated the need to drop balanced literacy methods in favor of returning to a traditional approach for teaching reading: phonics. Assistant Professor Faythe Beauchemin spoke with WGBH to explain why both styles deserve a place in the classroom.
How students are actually using AI
In a Boston Magazine feature exploring AI’s impact on education, Augustus Long Professor of Education Marina Bers warned how AI could deepen social inequities in classrooms while also presenting an opportunity to reimagine education by focusing on hands-on learning and other skills AI can’t replicate.
International enrollment in higher ed
Several public colleges and universities in Massachusetts reported fewer international students enrolled this fall. Associate Professor Gerardo Blanco, academic director of the Center for International Higher Education, commented on the many factors contributing to this decline in an article with WBUR News.
Lynch School faculty contribute to second edition of AERA handbook
Professor Shaun M. Dougherty and Associate Professors Raquel Muñiz and Gerardo Blanco contributed to the American Educational Research Association’s Handbook of Education Policy Research. The handbook, which is AERA’s most comprehensive, features issues in educational policy and politics across all academic domains.
Professor elected to the International Commission for the History of Universities
The International Commission for the History of Universities (ICHU) brings together distinguished scholars recognized for excellence in research and history of universities in higher education. This year, Professor Cristiano Casalini, the Endowed Chair in Jesuit Pedagogy and Educational History, was elected, honoring his influential scholarship on early modern and Jesuit education.
Black student participation in U.S. higher education
In University World News, Associate Professor Andrés Castro Samayoa offered an analysis of the policy decisions behind the significant drops in Black student participation in U.S. higher education.
Brookings commentary on landmark Supreme Court case
Associate Professors Raquel Muñiz and Andrés Castro Samayoa and Shane Dunn, M.A. ’10 (Higher Education) and an Ed.D. candidate (Higher Education), co-authored a Brookings article on the impact of the recent Supreme Court ruling in United States vs. Skrmetti across the American educational landscape. This decision addressed Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender minors, but may have broader impacts on schools across the country.
Results of longitudinal TIMSS survey
All nine national education systems in the TIMSS 2023 Longitudinal study showed growth in math and science between 2023 and 2024. Administered by Boston College’s TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, the study also linked student progress to factors like home resources, well-being, attendance, and bullying. Matthias von Davier is the Center’s executive director.
Lynch School faculty member receives $1.5M NSF grant
Assistant Professor and Director of Lab-to-Classroom Research Group Ido Davidesco received an National Science Foundation grant to support a project on advancing computational thinking and microelectronics education, with the goal of helping students become more computationally fluent, innovative, and adaptable without having AI do the thinking for them.
Dearing discusses the benefits of playful learning landscapes
Eric Dearing, executive director of the Walsh Center for Thriving Children, explained the rationale behind MathTalk’s clinic installations and how similar organizations are bringing math into unlikely places. These organizations, from DREME to MathTalk, from Boston College to PBS, have helped chart a new future for early math, one rooted in joy, curiosity, and play.
Expert perspectives on college ROI
Associate Professor Raquel Muñiz and Laura De Veau, assistant visiting professor, offered expert insight to Wallet Hub on the financial viability, systemic equity, and strategic accessibility of higher education in an era of rising costs.
From the Heights to the nation’s capital
Elaina DiCorpo, M.A. ’24 (Research and Evaluation Methods) was hired to be a Science and Data Policy Fellow within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Assessing the quality of career and technical education
In The 74, Professor Shaun M. Dougherty highlights key elements that elevate Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs: sequenced coursework, strong partnerships with employers and colleges, and hands-on experience. These factors truly make a difference in program quality and student success.
2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings
The John E. Cawthorne Chair of Education Stella M. Flores and Professor Shaun M. Dougherty, chair of the Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment department, were named among the nation’s top 200 scholars in Education Week’s RHSU Edu-Scholar rankings.
Donovan Scholars give back in honor of Thanksgiving
Members of the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars program and Woods for Others traveled to the Epiphany School to pack Thanksgiving meals for those in need.
America’s STEM visa bottleneck
In a Washington Post opinion piece, Professor of the Practice Chris R. Glass researches the dichotomy between the U.S.’s top-notch STEM programs and exceptionally slow visa processing for international students.
Lynch School faculty collaborate on educational equity publication
The third edition of Leadership for Increasingly Diverse Schools, edited by Professor Martin Scanlan and coeditor George Theoharis, was published last fall by Routledge. This new edition features the work of Educational Leadership faculty Earl J. Edwards and Lauri Johnson, helping both practicing and aspiring leaders to create classrooms that best serve all students.
The great university shake-up
As part of Nature’s “The Future of Universities” series, Lynch School faculty Chris R. Glass and Hans de Wit joined global experts in examining both the risks and opportunities in the increasingly globalized and competitive landscape of higher education.
BC introduces new hub for Formative Education
Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development launched the Transformative Education Lab in fall 2025. Led by Professor Deoksoon Kim, the lab unifies research and programs focused on whole-person, formative education.
Goodwin’s Journey To Elevate Teachers Across the World
Thomas More Brennan Professor A. Lin Goodwin, a first-generation Asian woman and longtime educator who has built her career around uplifting teachers and immigrant learners globally, was profiled by BC Heights.
Playground dedicated to principal and Lynch School alumna
Katie Grassa, Ed.D. ’22 (Educational Leadership) had a new playground at Curley K-8 School dedicated in her honor for her service and leadership for 12 years as principal. The school community celebrates those whose support and collaboration sustain their mission and continue to expand their students’ educational and social horizons.
Model of engagement in legislative environments
Nathan Hutcherson, Ph.D. ’25 (Higher Education), was featured in The Journal of Higher Education for his research on the critical role that university general counsel (UGC) plays in advising higher education leaders to explore whether and how they can promote institutional values despite legislative pressures.
NSF grant project will support development of science curricula
Katherine McNeill, the Bryk Faculty Fellow and professor, Zhushan (Mandy) Li, associate professor, and María González-Howard, Ph.D. ’17 (Curriculum and Instruction) received a $2 million National Science Foundation grant. The grant supports efforts to redesign elementary science curricula, making science learning more equitable and engaging for students.
Baker Center for Children and Families’ community partner
Ascione Faculty Formation Fellow and Professor Belle Liang was honored by the Baker Center for Children and Families as a community partner at their annual SuperK for Children’s Mental Health walk.
NASPA foundation honors Lynch School alumnus
Vice President and Dean of the College at Colgate University, Paul McLoughlin, Ph.D. ’11 (Higher Education), was named a 2025 NASPA Foundation Pillar of the Profession in recognition of his nearly three decades of leadership, scholarship, and service advancing inclusive education, mentorship, and institutional impact.
Lynch School alumna to lead The Century Foundation
Julie Margetta Morgan ’06, Ph.D. ’10 (Higher Education) was appointed as the eighth president of The Century Foundation (TCF), assuming the role in April 2025. One of the nation’s leading progressive think tanks, with a 106-year-history, TCF promotes economic, racial, gender, and disability equity across education, health care, and the workplace.
More 4-year colleges offer 2-year degrees to reach new groups of students
Messina College’s two-year associate’s degree program is creating pathways for first-generation and low-income students to receive a well-supported college experience. Michael Melo ’26 (Applied Psychology and Human Development) discussed how the program and the community have served as a source of motivation as he works toward his own career ambitions.
Inaugural ASHE Fellow
Ana M. Martínez-Alemán, the associate dean of faculty and academic affairs, has been selected as a member of the inaugural class of 25 fellows by the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).
Faculty member named a 2026 Emerging Scholar
The EDU Ledger selected Associate Professor Raquel Muñiz as an Emerging Scholar, highlighting Muñiz’s dedication to researching power structures that inhibit educational equity, including methods to dismantle and reimagine policies, practices, and institutional norms that marginalize historically underserved students.
Expanding high-quality early childhood education at Lawrence Catholic Academy
The Lynch Foundation, established by Peter and Carolyn Lynch, supports educational initiatives rooted in academic excellence, faith, and community impact, and is backing the expansion of high-quality early childhood education at Lawrence Catholic Academy (LCA). With guidance and resources from the Foundation improving students’ academic and faith development, former Lynch School Dean Joseph O’Keefe, S.J., emphasized that Catholic schools can advance learning while grounding students in values of compassion, justice, and hope.
The future of literacy in Massachusetts
Professor Patrick Proctor co-authored a Boston Globe opinion letter stressing the need for Massachusetts’ proposed Science of Reading legislation to better serve multilingual learners. Proctor and co-author Phyllis Hardy advocate for more inclusive reading instruction policies that reflect current research and address the unique needs of students learning English.
Haberman-Williams MaMHCA Scholarship
Maria Rubiano Quintero ‘26 (Mental Health Counseling) has been chosen as the recipient of the Haberman-Williams MaMHCA Scholarship, awarded by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association to a graduate student in mental health counseling who demonstrates high academic performance and a strong commitment to the field.