The American Educational Research Association (AERA) has named Cynthia Lewis, professor emerita of education at the University of California, Santa Cruz, as one of its 2025 AERA Fellows.
The prestigious honor recognizes scholars for their outstanding contributions to education research and their impact on the field. Lewis joins 28 other distinguished scholars in this year’s cohort, selected for their exceptional scholarship and leadership in educational research.
"I am deeply honored to be named an AERA Fellow and to join a community of scholars committed to advancing educational equity and justice,” Lewis said. “My work has always been driven by a belief in the transformative power of critical literacy and classroom discourse to challenge inequities and expand opportunities for all learners.
Lewis’ work is grounded in critical sociocultural theory to examine the sociocultural dimensions of learning in and out of school. Her research examines how identity, agency, and power shape learning experiences, particularly in relation to educational equity, access, and opportunities to learn. She employs critical discourse analysis and classroom ethnography to analyze micro-level interactions in educational settings, revealing how inequities are both produced and challenged through classroom discourse.
Throughout her career, Lewis has been recognized for her leadership, teaching, mentorship, and scholarship. She has served on the editorial advisory boards of leading literacy research journals and has held leadership roles in professional organizations. Her numerous accolades include the Educational Leadership Award from the University of Minnesota, the AERA Division G Mentoring Award, and the Edward B. Fry Book Award, which she has received twice for her scholarly contributions.
As a newly named AERA Fellow, Lewis will be formally inducted during a ceremony at the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting in Denver on April 24. With this honor, she joins a distinguished group of scholars recognized for their lasting contributions to education research and their commitment to improving learning experiences for diverse communities.
