It is with deep sadness that we write to inform you of the passing of our esteemed colleagues and fellow Academy members, Dr. Robert Mislevy, Dr. Hope Leichter, and Dr. William Schmidt.
Dr. Mislevy, a leading figure in educational measurement and assessment design, passed away at 74 on May 22. He was renowned for developing evidence-centered design (ECD), a foundational framework that transformed how assessments are built and interpreted, particularly in technology-rich environments. Mislevy held the Frederic M. Lord Chair at ETS and later served as Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland.
A member of the National Academy of Education and past president of the Psychometric Society, Mislevy received numerous honors, including AERA’s E.F. Lindquist Award. His work bridged psychometrics, cognitive science, and emerging technologies, leaving a lasting impact on how educators and researchers understand learning and assessment. Read more.
Dr. Leichter, Elbenwood Professor Emerita of Education and founding director of the Elbenwood Center for the Study of the Family as Educator at Teachers College, passed away at the age of 97 on May 25. Serving on the faculty for over 60 years (1962–2024), she was renowned for her innovative scholarship and pedagogy on family education, encompassing courses on education in museums, media, and the family’s role in memory and learning. Even this past fall, she remained actively teaching and mentoring, advising more than 70 doctoral students and contributing to over 150 doctoral and numerous master’s committees.
Leichter’s scholarly legacy includes seminal works like The Family as Educator (1979), Families and Communities as Educators, and Kinship and Casework (co‑authored, 1967). Honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship, election to the National Academy of Education, and a TC Student Senate Outstanding Professor award, she shaped the field by exploring how family contexts—from museums to media—influence lifelong learning. Read more.
Dr. Schmidt, Michigan State University Distinguished Professor, an internationally respected education scholar, passed away on May 26, 2025, after over 55 years of service at MSU. A leader in curriculum policy and quantitative methods, he founded the Center for the Study of Curriculum Policy, led the TIMSS research initiative, and played instrumental roles in MSU’s Education Policy Center and Measurement & Quantitative Methods Ph.D. program.
Schmidt’s work shaped global education, particularly through TIMSS studies that defined “opportunity to learn” and influenced U.S. educational policy including the Common Core standards. A member of the National Academy of Education, AERA fellow, and recipient of AERA’s Distinguished Contributions Award (2022), his colleagues reflected on his rigor, mentorship, collegiality, and lasting impact on international mathematics and science education. Read more.