Washington, April 7, 2025—The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tabbye M. Chavous as its new executive director, effective August 11, 2025. A nationally recognized scholar and seasoned leader, Chavous brings over 25 years of experience and significant accomplishments in research, teaching, and organizational advancement. Across her career, she has consistently advocated for high-quality, inclusive research, and her equity-oriented leadership is evident in her approaches to building and transforming educational environments.
Chavous succeeds Felice J. Levine, who has served as executive director since 2002, cultivating innovative programs and forward-looking policies for the field, expanding access and opportunity, and supporting the needs of the next generation of education researchers. Under Levine’s guidance, AERA has become a highly regarded national and international leader by advancing rigorous education science and deepening its footprint in public, practice, and policy spheres.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Chavous as the next leader of AERA,” said AERA President Janelle Scott. “Her deep expertise in education research and unwavering commitment to promoting evidence-based policies and practices make her the ideal choice to guide our organization toward continued growth and success. At a time when support for high-quality research is key to advancing education in the U.S. and worldwide, we are confident that Dr. Chavous will expand our impact and drive meaningful change.”
Chavous joins AERA from the University of Michigan, where she is a professor of education and psychology and currently serves as vice provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. An experienced administrative leader, Chavous has held numerous positions at the University of Michigan at the central administration-, college-, and department-levels. These include associate vice president for research in the university’s Office of the Vice President for Research; director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity; associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; associate dean for academic programs and initiatives in the Rackham Graduate School; and chair of the Combined Program in Education and Psychology.
“After more than two decades of AERA membership, I am honored and look forward to building on the tremendous work that has established the association as a leading resource for the national and international community,” said Chavous. “This is a challenging time for those who understand the value of rigorous research and scholarship, who seek to expand access and opportunity, and who cultivate the next generation of scholars and practitioners to make positive societal impacts. Our work is needed now more than ever.”
Chavous holds a PhD in community psychology from the University of Virginia, and she has dedicated her career to educational equity, advancing strengths-based frameworks for studying the experiences of marginalized communities and working with educational systems to draw on this knowledge in ways that serve all students. Her research focuses on several key areas: (1) social and academic identity development among Black adolescents and young adults; (2) achievement motivation processes among ethnically and racially minoritized students; and (3) the measurement of educational climates in secondary and higher education settings and implications for students’ academic, social, and psychological adjustment.
Chavous’ scholarship underscores both foundational research and its practical applications, through integrity-grounded collaborations with schools and school systems; youth, families, and communities; as well as organizations at local, state, and national levels. Her work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation, among others.
“I am thrilled to be succeeded by Dr. Chavous,” AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine said. “In this current moment in our nation’s history, where scholarship and knowledge are being threatened on multiple fronts, Dr. Chavous embodies the strategic, courageous, and evidence- and knowledge-based leadership needed in the field and AERA. I look forward to supporting her as she mobilizes our 25,000-plus members to take on the challenges that face us today.”
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About AERA
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the largest national interdisciplinary research association devoted to the scientific study of education and learning. Founded in 1916, AERA advances knowledge about education, encourages scholarly inquiry related to education, and promotes the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. Find AERA on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.