Four MSU scholars named national education influencers

January 16, 2025

Four scholars from the Michigan State University College of Education were recognized among the top 200 nationwide influencers in education.

Now in its 15th year, the annual Rick Hess Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings (Education Week) spotlight scholars from across the U.S. who have made significant contributions to education research, policy and practice.

Alt text: "A composite image featuring four people. From left to right: a man with short brown hair wearing a white shirt and green tie, a woman with white hair and glasses smiling with her hand resting on her cheek, a man with a beard and bald head wearing a suit and striped tie, and a man with short dark hair and beard wearing a checkered shirt. The background behind each person includes bookshelves, indoor lighting, and greenery.
From L to R: Josh Cowen, Barbara Schneider, Jerlando F. L. Jackson and Scott Imberman

The following Spartans are featured in the 2024 listing:

The rankings rubric indicates “more than 20,000 university-based faculty in the United States are researching education.”  

A panel of educational scholars and leaders from various institutions across the U.S. selected the scholars based on several factors, including Google Scholar scores and mentions in the educational and mainstream press. The goal was to identify influential higher education faculty who conduct education research. 


Related news: Six scholars from the college were recognized in 2024 for making the Rick Hess Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings.