James A. Banks to Present 2025 Brown Lecture in Education Research

Overview

On June 26, 2025, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) announced that James A. Banks, Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies Emeritus and founding director of the Center for Multicultural Education at the University of Washington, will deliver the 2025 Brown Lecture in Education Research. The public lecture is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. ET, with complimentary livestream registration opening in July on the AERA website.

Contributions to Education and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

James A. Banks, often recognized as the “father of multicultural education,” has made significant contributions to advancing multicultural and diverse education research. His work aligns closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:

• SDG 4: Quality Education – Banks’s research promotes inclusive and equitable quality education by improving race and ethnic relations and academic achievement among diverse groups.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – His focus on multicultural education addresses systemic inequalities within educational institutions.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – By fostering global citizenship education, Banks contributes to building peaceful and inclusive societies.

Academic and Professional Achievements

1. Authored influential books including:
   • Teaching Strategies for Ethnic Studies (Pearson)
   • Cultural Diversity and Education: Foundations, Curriculum, and Teaching (Pearson)
   • Educating Citizens in a Multicultural Society (Teachers College Press)
   • Race, Culture, and Education: The Selected Works of James A. Banks (Routledge)
2. Edited key publications such as:
   • Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education (Wiley)
   • Diversity and Citizenship Education: Global Perspectives (Wiley)
   • Citizenship Education and Global Migration: Implications for Theory, Research, and Teaching (AERA)
3. Served as past president of AERA (1997–1998) and the National Council for the Social Studies.
4. Received multiple prestigious awards including:
   • AERA’s 2023 Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award
   • Inaugural 2004 Social Justice in Education Award
   • 1994 Review of Research Award
5. Member of the National Academy of Education and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Educational Background

• B.A. in Elementary Education and Social Science from Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University)
• M.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University

The Brown Lecture and Its Significance

The Brown Lecture, inaugurated in 2004 by AERA, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which ended legal racial segregation in U.S. public schools by incorporating scientific research into its ruling. Now in its 22nd year, the lecture highlights research that advances educational equity and social justice, directly supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

2025 Brown Lecture Selection Committee

• James D. Anderson, Chair, AERA Social Justice Action Committee (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
• Maisha T. Winn, AERA President (Stanford University)
• Janelle T. Scott, AERA Past President (University of California, Berkeley)
• Denise M. Taliaferro Baszile, AERA Social Justice Action Committee Member (Wayne State University)
• Nicole Johnson, AERA Social Justice Action Committee Member (Howard University)
• Felice J. Levine, AERA Executive Director
• George L. Wimberly, AERA Director of Professional Development and Diversity Officer

About the American Educational Research Association (AERA)

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the largest national interdisciplinary research association devoted to the scientific study of education and learning. Founded in 1916, AERA advances knowledge about education, encourages scholarly inquiry, and promotes the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. AERA’s mission supports multiple Sustainable Development Goals by fostering educational research that promotes equity, inclusion, and quality education worldwide.

Connect with AERA on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article focuses on multicultural education, social justice in education, and improving academic achievement for diverse groups, which directly relates to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The emphasis on improving race and ethnic relations and advancing social justice in education aligns with reducing inequalities within and among countries.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • The article references the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ended racial segregation in schools, promoting justice and strong institutions.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 4 Targets
   • Target 4.5: Eliminate gender disparities and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for vulnerable populations, including ethnic minorities.
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including education for global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity.
2. SDG 10 Targets
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, or other status.
3. SDG 16 Targets
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels, including in education systems.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicators Related to SDG 4
   • Proportion of students by ethnic group achieving proficiency in reading and mathematics (implied by focus on academic achievement of diverse groups).
   • Inclusion of multicultural and global citizenship content in curricula (implied by Banks’s work on multicultural education and citizenship education).
2. Indicators Related to SDG 10
   • Measures of social and ethnic inclusion in educational institutions (implied by research on improving race and ethnic relations).
3. Indicators Related to SDG 16
   • Extent of implementation of policies promoting equity and justice in education (implied by reference to Brown v. Board of Education and social justice awards).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: newswise.com