Ellen Goldring has been elected a member of the National Academy of Education. She is vice dean of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor, and professor of educational leadership and policy.
Goldring's research focuses on the intersection of education policy and school improvement with an emphasis on educational leadership. She examines the implementation and effects of school leadership practices and initiatives such as professional development, coaching, and performance feedback. In recent years, her scholarship has offered important insights into the roles of assistant principals and on school district and central office redesign for building and sustaining principal pipelines and career pathways to effective school leadership.
Her work is regularly supported by government agencies and private foundations, including the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. State Department, the Wallace Foundation, and the William T. Grant Foundation, among others. She has co-authored or co-edited nine books and co-authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles as well as 33 research and policy reports.
"Ellen Goldring is an exemplary scholar and leader and well deserving of induction into the National Academy of Education. The intellectual rigor of her work and its profound impact on education policy and practice make her a remarkable addition to this esteemed organization," said Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development.
Throughout her 40-year career, Goldring has received numerous honors and awards. In 2016, she received the Roald F. Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award from the University Council of Educational Administration. From 2015 to 2022, she was named to Education Week's Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, an annual list of education researchers who have demonstrated the greatest influence over educational policy and practice.
"As one of Ellen's collaborators for many years, I can attest that no one is more thoughtful about the realities of changing schools or does a better job of blending the theoretical with the practical in their work. Her election to the National Academy of Education is a well-earned recognition," said Jason Grissom, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Public Policy and Education.
In addition to her scholarship, Goldring's lasting impact on her students is a hallmark of her career. She has mentored and advised many doctoral students who have advanced to build influential academic and research careers of their own.
Moreover, Goldring's remarkable service record reflects her commitment to supporting research excellence among her colleagues. From 2019 to 2024, she served as the editor-in-chief of the American Educational Research Journal, the flagship journal of the American Educational Research Association. She was selected as an AERA Fellow in 2010 and served as vice president of AERA's Division L, Politics and Policy in 2013.
Goldring has been active in both national and international research centers, including the Asian Pacific Center for Leadership and Change at the Education University of Hong Kong, the Consortium for Research on Jewish Education at George Washington University, and the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change at the University of Glasgow. Additionally, she has served on numerous academic and advisory boards and committees.
Goldring earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1985, studying educational administration; institutional and policy studies; and measurement, evaluation, and statistical analyses.
With the addition of Goldring, six current and emeriti Vanderbilt faculty members are NAEd members:
Paul Cobb, professor of education, emeritus
Richard Lehrer, professor of teaching and learning, emeritus
Rich Milner, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Education
Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor, and professor of psychology and human development
Leona Schauble, professor of education, emerita
About the National Academy of Education
The National Academy of Education (NAEd) advances high-quality research to improve education policy and practice. Founded in 1965, the NAEd consists of U.S. members and international associates who are elected on the basis of scholarship related to education. The Academy undertakes research studies to address pressing educational issues and administers professional development fellowship programs to enhance the preparation of the next generation of education scholars.
