Scholar named to National Academy of Education

Roger Weissberg

Roger Weissberg, professor of psychology and education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, is one of 12 new members elected to the National Academy of Education for their contributions to educational research and policy development.

Weissberg, who is NoVo Foundation Endowed Chair in Social and Emotional Learning at UIC, has been a leader for more than 30 years in the campaign to establish social and emotional learning as an essential part of education from preschool through high school. He trains education scholars and practitioners in innovative family, school and community interventions developed from evidence-based social and emotional learning practices.

At UIC, he heads the SEL Research Group, which directs projects in social and emotional learning research and assessment, practice, educator preparation and policy development. He and his collaborators are currently working with eight large, urban school districts — including Chicago Public Schools — on the implementation and evaluation of social and emotional learning from preschool to high school.

He is also president and CEO of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, or CASEL, an organization leading efforts to ensure that children’s social and emotional needs are addressed in schools worldwide. In 2004, Illinois became the first state to adopt K-12 student learning standards in social and emotional learning.

Among many awards he has received for his work, Weissberg was chosen in 2008 by the George Lucas Educational Foundation for its “Daring Dozen” of those who are reshaping the future of education. Weissberg has more than 200 publications focusing on preventive interventions with children and adolescents. He was named UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences distinguished professor in 2009.

Weissberg is the third member of the UIC faculty to earn membership in the academy. Susan Goldman and James Pellegrino, co-directors of the UIC Learning Sciences Research Institute and distinguished professors of liberal arts and sciences, psychology and education, were elected to the academy in 2011 and 2007, respectively.

Since its establishment in 1965, the National Academy of Education has undertaken research  to address pressing issues in education and which typically include its members and other experts. In addition, members are deeply engaged in the organization’s professional development programs focused on the rigorous preparation of the next generation of scholars.

UIC ranks among the nation’s leading research universities and is Chicago’s largest university with 27,500 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state’s major public medical center. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world. For more information about UIC, please visit www.uic.edu.