Two Applied Psychology Faculty Named Most Impactful Education Scholars

Two NYU Steinhardt faculty were named top education scholars by the 2024 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. 

Courtney Sale Ross University Professor of Globalization and Education Hirokazu Yoshikawa appeared at #85, while Associate Professor of Applied Psychology Joshua Aronson appeared at #99.

The RHSU Edu-Scholar Rankings spotlight the top 200 education scholars out of nearly 20,000 university-based faculty tackling educational questions in the United States. The ranking, created by EducationWeek Opinion Contributor Rick Hess, draws on nine metrics, including Google Scholar scores, books published, mentions in education press and newspapers, and appearance in congressional records, to evaluate scholars’ public influence. 

“One small way to encourage academics to step into the fray and revisit academic norms is, I think, by doing more to recognize and value those scholars who engage in public discourse,” explains Hess. “As I see it, the extraordinary public scholar excels in five areas: disciplinary research, scholarly analysis, popular writing on policy and practice, convening and shepherding collaborations, and speaking in the public square.”

Yoshikawa’s current projects include leading the research and evaluation for the MacArthur Foundation 100&Change, as well as Lego Foundation-funded partnerships with Sesame Workshop, the International Rescue Committee, and BRAC to provide early childhood programming for Syrian refugee families in the Middle East and Rohingya refugee families in Bangladesh. Aronson’s work helps schools become environments that promote excellence in cognitive, socio-emotional, and moral development by incorporating social psychological interventions like mindfulness and meditation into classrooms, and by developing "four-dimensional curriculum" to improve learning, curiosity, critical thinking, self-control, and purpose.