COLLEGE PARK, MD (September, 2011) College of Education alumnus Dr. Roy Levy has been selected to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This annual award, which was started by President Bill Clinton, honors researchers who have already made a significant impact in their field of study during the early stages of their careers.
Awardees are selected by sixteen federal agencies and departments on the basis of their research contributions. Dr. Levy, an assistant professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social and Family Dynamics, was the only award recipient chose by the Department of Education.
Dr. Levy’s research focuses on new statistical techniques for analyzing data taken in innovative assessments. Innovative assessments take place in complex environments and target multiple skills. He is working along with other educators across the globe on developing statistical tools to draw inferences from the results of these assessments.
In a White House press release, President Obama said, “It is inspiring to see the innovative work being done by these scientists and engineers as they ramp up their careers – careers that I know will be not only personally rewarding by also invaluable to the nation.”
Levy said he hoped to meet those expectations later in his career.
“I don’t really think in terms of career goals, but I hope that my work promotes knowledge, learning and improved practice,” Levy said.
He went on to say that he hoped to produce research that improves the field of data analysis and to have a good impact on his students. Levy also thanked his colleagues for the award, which he will receive at a White House ceremony.
“Such collaborations (with my colleagues) have produced some of my best work, and even my individual work can be traced to interactions I’ve had with colleagues,” Levy said. “So this recognition of me is also a recognition (of) those I am fortunate enough to work with.”
Dr. Levy is a two–time graduate of the College of Education, completing his Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation. In 2010, Levy received the College’s Outstanding New Scholar Award.
In his nomination letter, Dr. Gregory Hancock, Levy’s master’s degree advisor at the College, wrote, “Dr. Roy Levy has quickly become a nationally recognized and sought–after expert in cutting–edge psychometric assessment models. He is an exceedingly rare commodity, someone bright enough to digest the existing complexities in our field, skilled enough to take them further, and articulate and thoughtful enough to communicate the developments to students, researchers, and practitioners alike. His accomplishments so far are most impressive, and they portend even greater things to come.”
Adapted from web post from www.statepress.com on September 27, 2011
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