Below are awards and honors University of Maryland College of Education faculty and students have earned between mid-November 2025 and mid-February 2026:
Department Abbreviations
CHSE | Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education
HDQM | Human Development and Quantitative Methodology
TLPL | Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership
David Blazar, associate professor of education policy (TLPL), and Kimberly Griffin M.A. ’01, dean and professor (CHSE), were both included in Education Week’s 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. The list ranks the 200 university-based scholars in the United States who had the biggest impact on educational practice and policy last year. This is Griffin’s fifth consecutive appearance on the list and the first for Blazar.
Peggy G. Carr, visiting professor (HDQM), was one of 19 distinguished education scholars and leaders elected to the National Academy of Education (NAEd) in 2026. Election to the NAEd is one of the highest honors an education researcher can receive.
Kenny Coronel, Jannelle Dang and Janae Davis, master’s students in the higher education, student affairs and international education policy program (CHSE), competed in the NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Faculty Council Case Study Competition as the team Student Affairs Cubed and were selected as this year’s winner.
Drew S. Fagan, clinical professor (TLPL), received the American Association for Applied Linguistics 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award for his work promoting public awareness of the importance of multilingualism. The award recognizes individuals who raise awareness of important social issues involving language.
Gregory R. Hancock, professor (HDQM), and his co-host Patrick Curran were recently recognized for their podcast “Quantitude.” The podcast was ranked #1 on Statology’s list of 5 Statistics Podcasts That Don’t Put You to Sleep and #4 on FeedSpot’s list of 15 Best Statistics Podcasts.
Jioni A. Lewis and Delida Sanchez, both associate professors of counseling psychology (CHSE), are among five psychologists honored with the Shining Star Award at the National Multicultural Conference and Summit. This award honors mid-career psychologists who demonstrate a strong interest in multicultural research, teaching, advocacy, policy and/or clinical care. Honorees embody the core principles of multicultural psychology and demonstrate a continued dedication to promoting culturally responsive practices, social responsibility and systemic change within their field of expertise.
Kelly Nye-Lengerman, visiting research professor (CHSE), was selected as one of 11 new Fellows of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) in 2026. The AAIDD Fellowship recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained national impact through scholarship, leadership, policy influence and service advancing the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Rachel Romeo, assistant professor (HDQM), was named one of 12 Jacobs CIFAR Research Fellows in the 2026-28 cohort. The Jacobs CIFAR Research Fellowship Program offers prestigious fellowships to early- and mid-career researchers whose work is dedicated to improving the learning and development of children and youth worldwide.
Isaac Shin ’26, an undergraduate student in secondary education, social studies concentration (TLPL), received the Bernice Samalonis Award from the Middle States Council for Social Studies. This award is presented to an outstanding preservice social studies teacher attending a college or university in the Middle States region.
Christopher S. Travers, assistant professor (CHSE), has been chosen as one of five 2026-28 Emerging Scholar-Designees by ACPA–College Student Educators International. The Emerging Scholars Program supports, encourages and honors early-career individuals who are emerging as contributors to student affairs and higher education scholarship and who are pursuing research initiatives congruent with the mission, interests and strategic goals of ACPA. His project is entitled “Visualizing Communion for Black Men in Academe through Endarkened Photovoice.” In addition, Travers was named one of seven members of NASPA’s Emerging Faculty Leader Academy (EFLA) Cohort XI class for the 2026-27 academic year. EFLA is a one-year program for emerging faculty leaders who want to gain leadership knowledge, techniques and experience and develop and sustain fulfilling faculty careers.
Photo by John T. Consoli
