Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development

In honor of the late Mary T. Kinnane, a professor renowned for her passion and significant contributions to the field of higher education, the Lynch School’s Educational Leadership and Higher Education department celebrates her work with an annual award, the Mary T. Kinnane Award. This award recognizes the outstanding achievement and excellence in academics, service, and character.

This year’s ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of all graduates from the Lynch School’s M.A., Ed.D., and Ph.D. programs in higher education, acknowledging their hard work and dedication to advancing the field.

Congratulations to Kayla Edwards, M.A. ’26, the recipient of this year’s Mary T. Kinnane Award for Excellence in Higher Education, and best of luck to all our Higher Education graduates!

We are thrilled to share that UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco will present a keynote address at the 2026 G.R.A.C.E. Colloquium, hosted here on The Heights!

A globally recognized scholar of migration and education, Suárez-Orozco will explore how formative holistic education can meet the challenges of mass displacements, climate change, and social fragmentation. Drawing on his collaboration with Pope Francis, he calls for the transformation of the mission of Catholic education

Your seat awaits! Learn more about the 2026 G.R.A.C.E. Colloquium: https://bit.ly/4vvvhx9

Dihao Leng, Ph.D. ’24 (Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment) received the IEA Education Bruce H. Choppin Award in honor of her contributions to research in educational assessment.

Leng’s work on international assessments looks beyond test scores, focusing on how students engage with exams to better understand test-taking behaviors and identify the root causes of educational disparities.

Explore her award-winning research: https://bit.ly/3QKBRRg

Congratulations to Lynch School alums Carly Gilson, M.Ed. ’11 and James Sinclair, M.A., ’09, M.A., ’11, recipients of the Council for Exceptional Children Division Research’s Martin J. Kaufman Distinguished Early Career Research Award!

This honor recognizes their outstanding contributions to special education research.

Read more about their scholarship: https://bit.ly/4tFuQyY

Associate Professor Emily Gates and Pablo Vidueria’s new publication, “Evaluative Inquiry for Systemic Change: A Guide to Shift Beyond Fixes to Lasting Value,” presents a deep dive into the importance of collaboration when leading transformation in organizations and cross-sector networks.

From education to healthcare, the book explores how people can work together across roles, teams, and organizations to steward change. Be a change maker: https://bit.ly/4sWdZbn

New research from Professor Stella M. Flores explores how legal access impacts K-12 attendance. Drawing on district data, the study unpacks how the 1982 Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court decision transformed the reality of undocumented student participation.

Read more about Flores's work on immigrant educational rights: https://bit.ly/4f9zYaS

Crissy Pruitt, a Lynch School alumna (B.A. ‘97, M.Ed. ‘98, Ed.D. ’26), has been named the next Superintendent of Easton Public Schools.

Throughout Pruitt's impactful nine years of service to the district as Assistant Superintendent, she led curriculum development and equity-centered initiatives across the schools.

Her unanimous appointment by the Easton School Committee reflects the community's confidence in her leadership and commitment to student success and inclusion.

Read more about Pruitt’s appointment: https://bit.ly/3R4qnYS

Lauri Johnson has received the 2026 Social Justice Teaching Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Leadership for Social Justice SIG. Presented by UCEA president elect Miriam Ezzani, the award serves as recognition of Johnson’s outstanding social justice teaching in the field of educational leadership.

“Dr. Johnson teaches social justice not as a theory to admire, but as a responsibility,” shared a student. “Her teaching reshaped how I see my role as an educational leader, reminding me that social justice work begins with listening deeply, acting courageously, and refusing to separate learning from humanity.”

Johnson encourages her students to approach social justice as a moral practice driven by care, curiosity, and accountability. Through her teachings, she empowers students to unpack how equity plays into educator’s decisions and relationships.

Congratulations, Dr. Johnson! We are grateful for your continued commitment to shaping future leaders.

To kick off a year of celebration for our 75th anniversary, the Lynch School hosted the inaugural Alumni Mixer, which brought together members of the community for an evening of networking, mentorship, and reconnecting with fellow Eagles.

Thank you to all who attended and for the continued partnership as we strengthen the BC Lynch School network.

Dr. Martin Scanlan was recently featured as an expert contributor in OnlineU's "2026 Most Affordable Online Catholic Colleges" guide.

Scanlan's expertise centers on how Catholic institutions support students in connecting their education to a broader sense of vocation and purpose, and how that mission-driven identity comes into play throughout the college experience, from coursework to student life.

Scanlan expands upon the reality of online Catholic colleges and offers key considerations for prospective students when evaluating options.

Read the full guide: https://bit.ly/4emrZa2