Jeff Walls of Washington State University Receives Early-Career Award

For the second time in as many years, Washington State University College of Education faculty member Jeff Walls has been recognized with an early-career award.

This time, Walls, an assistant professor of educational leadership, is being honored as co-recipient of the Emerging Scholar Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division A.

The award is given by the division in recognition of a pre-tenure scholar who is in the first five years of their career and has made outstanding contributions to the field of leadership, administration, or organizational theory.

Last year, Walls received the Emerging Scholar Award from the Journal of Professional Capital and Community.

“The supportive colleagues at WSU and collaborators around the country were really helpful for me in receiving this award,” he said. “Having colleagues who are amazing researchers, know the value of research, and make space for early career faculty members to pursue their research interests is what really made this possible.”

The award is considered one of the most esteemed honors for pre-tenure scholars, recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of leadership, administration, or organizational theory early in their academic careers.

“The College of Education at WSU does a stellar job of making sure that early career faculty members have the time and resources needed to develop a research agenda and pursue the lines of inquiry they are passionate about,” Walls said.

Walls will officially receive the award at AERA’s annual meeting this April in Philadelphia.