Abrams Becomes Interim Associate Dean of Research & Faculty Development
July 27, 2023
Abrams Becomes Interim Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development
The VCU School of Education celebrates the appointment of Lisa Abrams, Ph.D., to Interim Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development.
"Looking specifically at our research achievements in FY22, VCU School of Education is ranked #1 in Virginia and #7 in the nation regarding research funding per faculty member by U.S. News. We reported $984K per faculty member in research spending, demonstrating our commitment to research and underscoring the ample opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students to engage in research," said Kathleen Rudasill, Ph.D., interim dean of the VCU School of Education. "We are thrilled to have Lisa lead our research and faculty development efforts."
In FY22, the VCU School of Education generated $37.4 million in external research awards. In addition, the National Science Foundation's Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey FY21 ranked VCU School of Education as #13 in the education category of public research universities, and VCU overall was ranked as #50. With more than $400 million in sponsored awards, VCU is an urban-serving public research university with Carnegie R1 and Community Engaged designations.
Dr. Abrams is an accomplished education researcher and educator focusing on educational research design, measurement, and evaluation. With a Ph.D. in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation from Boston College, Dr. Abrams brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the School of Education.
Dr. Abrams’ research focuses on teacher professional development, and the role of assessment and data use practice to support instructional effectiveness and learning outcomes. She has secured over $20 million dollars in externally funded research and evaluation projects from federal and state agencies. She has been involved in several notable publications and projects in recent years. Dr. Abrams was the principal investigator for the META Researchers and Practitioners in Partnership to Enhance Data Use Practice to Improve Learning (IES award #R305H150088).
This collaborative research-practice partnership engages various educational institutions, including VCU, Chesterfield County Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, and Richmond City Public Schools, to explore the ways teachers and school administrators utilize data to inform instructional decisions, ultimately supporting students' learning outcomes.
Additionally, Dr. Abrams lead Project CRESST (NIH Science Education Partnership Award #R25 OD010984-05), a significant teacher development project to enhance clinical research education for science students and educators. Currently, she co-leads PATHS (NIH Science Education Partnership Award #R25GM142033) that builds on the CRESST model and provides summer teacher professional development program and year-round support to instruction about careers in the health sciences and the application of data science within an equity framework.
Through these publications and projects, Dr. Abrams continues to make a meaningful impact in the field of education, promoting effective teaching practices and driving advancements in research and evaluation methodologies.
“Dr. Abram's dedication to improving learning outcomes and supporting educators and students makes her invaluable to the educational research community,” continued Dr. Rudasill.
U.S. News & World Report ranked VCU School of Education as the 18th (tied) best public education school in the nation and #2 best education school in Virginia, according to its 2023-2024 Education School rankings released on April 25, 2023.
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