Two Neag School of Education professors and an alumnus will receive prestigious awards at this year’s American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Denver. Bob Pianta ’77 (ED), ’78 MA is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award, Franklin Tuitt has earned the W. J. McKeachie Career Achievement Award, and Michael Coyne is the Notable Vocabulary Researcher Award winner.

“I offer heartfelt congratulations to my colleagues Dr. Coyne, Dr. Tuitt, and Dr. Pianta,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “It is a tremendous honor to see members of our distinguished faculty and illustrious alumni of the Neag School recognized by AERA. These awards are not only a testament to their groundbreaking research, but also to their unwavering dedication to advancing knowledge and making meaningful contributions to society. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the excellence they bring to our academic community.”

The Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award is “the premier acknowledgment of outstanding achievement and success in education research,” according to AERA. “Its purpose is to publicize, motivate, encourage, and suggest models for education research at its best.”

Pianta is the Batten Bicentennial Professor of Early Childhood Education and former dean of the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development. His research measures teacher-student relationships and their impact on students’ learning and development. A member of the National Academy of Education and an AERA Fellow, Pianta led the research and development of a suite of tools designed to improve teachers’ interactions with their students, including the Classroom Assessment Scoring System and MyTeachingPartner.

“I am honored and grateful to have been considered for this award,” Pianta said in a UVA publication. “Receiving this is the product of the teamwork and dedication of researchers and staff, the participation of our partners in the field, and the generous efforts of many colleagues. It is very gratifying that our work has been helpful to so many educators and scholars around the world and it is exciting to see these ideas take hold in so many ways.”

AERA’s Faculty Teaching, Evaluation, and Development special interest group presents the W. J. McKeachie Career Achievement Award – named in honor of Bill McKeachie – each year to recognize outstanding, careerlong contributions to the research and development on college teaching and learning; issues related to faculty evaluation and development; and student ratings of teaching.

Tuitt is a professor of higher education and student affairs in the Neag School’s Department of Educational Leadership and UConn’s former vice president and chief diversity officer. His scholarship critically examines issues of race, inclusive excellence, and diversity in and outside the classroom from the purview of faculty and students. Tuitt is also a 2024-2025 American Council on Education Fellow.

“I am deeply honored to receive the W. J. McKeachie Career Achievement Award from AERA’s Faculty Teaching, Evaluation, and Development SIG, especially as we navigate these challenging times in higher education,” Tuitt says. “This recognition is not mine alone. I share it with the brilliant nominators, mentors, colleagues, and students who have dared to dream alongside me about what it means to create more inclusive, affirming, and anti-racist learning environments, both inside and outside the classroom.”

The Notable Vocabulary Researcher Award is given by AERA’s Vocabulary special interest group, which promotes communication about vocabulary development and instruction, and fosters the sharing of information about ongoing research and promising practices related to vocabulary. The award, given annually, recognizes an important scholar in the field.

Coyne is a professor of special education and head of the Neag School’s Department of Educational Psychology. His expertise is in beginning reading and early vocabulary instruction and intervention; school-based experimental research; multi-tiered systems of support; and effective practices for students with learning disabilities. Coyne also co-directs the Neag School’s Center for Behavioral Education and Research.

“I am truly grateful to receive this award,” Coyne says. “It is especially meaningful to be acknowledged by members of AERA’s vocabulary SIG – colleagues whose scholarship I deeply respect and whose research continues to make a real difference for teachers and learners.”

Pianta, Tuitt, and Coyne will officially receive their awards during AERA’s annual meeting in Denver, which runs April 23-27.

To view a full schedule of Neag School-affiliated presentations and events at the 2025 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, visit education.uconn.edu/aera.