Doctoral Student Janay Crossland Selected as AERA Division J Incoming Graduate Student Co-representative

Janay Crossland, a first-year doctoral student in the NC State College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development, has been selected to serve as an American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J incoming graduate student co-representative.

In this two-year role, Crossland and another selected scholar will organize key events for graduate students at annual AERA meetings, including the Fireside Chat, Graduate Student Session and Graduate Student Social events. In addition, she will coordinate community-building initiatives for graduate students, including organizing and hosting virtual workshops and panel discussions focused on topics critical to graduate student success. 

“Being selected for this role is a tremendous honor, as it allows me to work closely with both graduate students and faculty members dedicated to advancing postsecondary education scholarship,” Crossland said. “As a first-generation and rural doctoral student, I deeply understand the challenges of navigating academia. Serving in this capacity allows me to provide support, guidance and resources to fellow graduate students as they are socialized into the academic community.”

The opportunity to not only support her fellow graduate students but to represent the College of Education on a national level is important to Crossland, who believes that educational leadership is rooted in service and in the importance of giving back to the profession through engagement. 

During her time so far in the College of Education, she has already taken on leadership roles through her position as assistant program coordinator. Through this role, she has taken on strategic recruitment initiatives for master’s and doctoral programs — coordinating recruitment events, managing campus visits and representing programs during open houses. 

As an AERA graduate student co-representative, Crossland is looking forward to building connections with fellow graduate students and building a support network within the academic community. In addition, she hopes the experience will help her grow as a scholar and in her own research efforts. 

“This role will give me exposure to leading scholars conducting research in my areas of interest, allowing me to expand my academic knowledge and refine my research approach. I am eager to engage in opportunities that will strengthen my skills as a scholar and leader in the field of higher education,” she said.

This post was originally published in College of Education News.