SARAH FERGUSON, SECRETARY

My name is Dr. Sarah Ferguson, and I am an Associate Professor of Quantitative Methods at Rowan University in southern New Jersey. This year I am starting as the NERA Secretary to continue my service to the organization. I served as a Conference Co-Chair for NERA 2023, and I have previously served as a Co-Chair of the Mentoring Committee for two years and as Chair of the Conference Ambassadors committee for three years. Outside of NERA, I have previously served in other organizations including the Southwestern Education Research Association (SERA) where I was the elected Graduate Student Representative on the board in 2015-2016, and I served as the Secretary, Program Chair, and then Chair of the Professors of Educational Research SIG at AERA from 2018-2022. 
 
In my professional role at Rowan University, I am an applied methodologist in educational research, focusing on the application of advanced research methods and statistics approaches to issues in education. My current research focuses on two areas: the education and utilization of quality research methods and analyses and supporting career development pathways for individuals from high school to career in STEM fields. Additionally, my primary teaching roles at Rowan are in the Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs, teaching statistics, mixed-methods research, survey design, and related course work. Prior to coming to Rowan, I was a certified teacher in Texas with certifications in Elementary Education, Middle School Science, and High School Science. I earned my doctorate in Educational Research from the University of North Texas in 2016, and I have served in my current role at Rowan for five years. During my graduate school years, I was heavily involved with SERA including serving as my campus representative for graduate students and being elected to the board as the Graduate Student Representative. Since moving to the northeast, I have been involved with NERA as a member, reviewer, discussant, and presenter for six years now. 
 
I am a strong believer in the role regional organizations play in the education research field, specifically in supporting students in their development in education research and in facilitating connections and networking across the region. I am a strong advocate for NERA in my own institution, and in my previous roles as Conference Ambassadors Chair, Mentoring Committee Co-Chair, and Conference Co-Chair, I have worked to support members of NERA at the conference each year and continue the legacy of NERA as a supportive and welcoming space for students, researchers, and practitioners in education. This opportunity allows me to combine my passion for the mission of NERA combined with my professional interest in serving the community and contributing to the direction of the organization.