The National Academy of Education (NAEd) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 NAEd/Spencer Dissertation and Postdoctoral Fellowships and Research Development Awards. These programs provide funding and professional development to early-career researchers whose projects address critical issues in the history, theory, or practice of formal or informal education, at the national and international levels.

The NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship provides $70,000 to early-career scholars to focus on their research and attend professional development retreats. This year, the 25 postdoctoral fellows were selected from a pool of 249 applicants.

The 35 NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellows — selected from a pool of 413 applicants — will receive $27,500 for a period of up to two years to complete their dissertations and also attend professional development retreats.

The Research Development Awardees have been chosen from the pool of 2021 NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship semi-finalists. The award will provide these scholars with a research stipend and will fund them to attend the 2021 NAEd/Spencer Fall Fellows Retreat and Annual Meeting, the 2022 NAEd/Spencer Spring Fellows Retreat, and the 2022 AERA Annual Meeting.

According to NAEd President Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, “The NAEd/Spencer Fellowship Programs cultivate the next generation of education scholars by funding their research projects and providing resources to strengthen their research and research training, including mentorship from NAEd members. We consider these fellows to be among the best in their respective fields, and I look forward to working with them in the coming year.”

Please click on the links below for information on the recipients and their research:

NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellows
NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellows
NAEd/Spencer Research Development Awardees