2021-2022 Total Awards : $20,887,727
Simmons School Distinguished Researchers: Dr. Leanne Ketterlin Geller, Dr. Akihito Kamata, Dr. Stephanie Al Otaiba, Dr. Candace Walkington. Total Awards in 2021-22: $20,887,727. Ranked among the top 12 private graduate schools nationally and among the top 3 public and private schools in Texas.
Simmons School Distinguished Researchers: Dr. Candace Walkington, Dr. Dominique Baker, Dr. Jill Allor, Dr. Lin Lin Lipsmeyer. Total Awards in 2021-22: $20,887,727. Ranked among the top 12 private graduate schools nationally and among the top 3 public and private schools in Texas.
Simmons School Distinguished Researchers: Dr. Lin Lin Lipsmeyer, Dr. Akihito Kamata, Dr. Eric Bing, Dr. Stephanie Al Otaiba. Total Awards in 2021-22: $20,887,727. Ranked among the top 12 private graduate schools nationally and among the top 3 public and private schools in Texas.
Simmons School Distinguished Researchers: Dr. Anthony Petrosino, Dr. Eric Bing, Dr. Leanne Ketterlin Geller, Dr. Dominique Baker. Total Awards in 2021-22: $20,887,727. Ranked among the top 12 private graduate schools nationally and among the top 3 public and private schools in Texas.
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Research with real-world impact

Ranked among the top 12 private graduate schools and among the top 3 public and private schools in Texas

Simmons School faculty conduct innovative research and professional development projects designed to have real-world impact on teaching, education leadership, and applied physiology. The faculty have attracted more than $50 million in external funding over the past five years from external sources such as the U.S. Dept. of Education, National Science Foundation, Toyota Foundation, Gates Foundation, American Heart Association, King's College London, Nike, TFA, AERA, Spencer Foundation, and Walton Family Foundation. Whether collaborating on interdisciplinary research, identifying processes to improve literacy or STEM education, or developing VR or gaming instructional tools, Simmons faculty pursue evidence-based solutions that change lives.

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Research Snapshot

Meet the Simmons School Distinguished Researchers

classroom

Largest single-year research award in SMU’s history

Dr. Leanne Ketterlin Geller was awarded an $8 million grant to enhance instructional practices to meet the needs of students experiencing math difficulties in grades 4-8. The grant is the largest single-year research award in SMU’s history. Read More

Baker

Advocating for underrepresented students

Dr. Dominique Baker investigates student financial aid, affirmative action, and policies that influence the ability to create an inclusive and equitable campus climate. She is the 2021 Association for Education Finance & Policy Early Career Award winner. Read More

Jill Allor

Working to enhance reading and language outcomes

Dr. Jill Allor is helping to conduct a randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of literacy intervention. The trial is designed to enhance reading and language outcomes for elementary students with intellectual and developmental disability. Read More

Bing

Global health expert

As director of global health at the Bush Institute, Dr. Eric Bing has initiated worldwide health initiatives, including serving as co-leader of the institute’s Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partnership, an $85 million public-private program designed to combat cervical and breast cancer in Africa and Latin America. Read More

Walkington

Personalizing mathematics

Dr. Candace Walkington's research examines the connection of abstract mathematical ideas to students’ everyday concrete experiences. She personalizes mathematics instruction through applications to students’ interests in sports, music, shopping, video games, software design, and career areas. Read More

Lin Lin Lipsmeyer

Lin Lin Lipsmeyer

Dr. Lin Lipsmeyer conducts research in learning sciences, cognition, and innovative technologies. She has generated over 110 publications and serves as the Development Editor-in-Chief of Educational Technology Research and Development. Read more

Akihito Kamata

Akihito Kamata

Dr. Akihito Kamata performs research in the areas of psychometrics and measurement, focusing on implementation of item-level test data analysis methodology through various modeling frameworks. He has performed pioneering work on multilevel item response theory modeling. Read more

Tony Petrosino

Tony Petrosino

Dr. Petrosino has received more than $17MM in grant funding from the NSF, Department of Education, and the McDonnel Foundation for Cognitive Studies.  Co-Founder of UTeach, he has published numerous articles in STEM research journals. Read more

Stephanie Al Otaiba

Stephanie Al Otaiba

Dr. Stephanie Al Otaiba's research in literacy interventions has resulted in over 150 publications and numerous awards. An elected AERA Fellow, Dr. Al Otaiba has held top editorial and leadership positions in numerous scholarly journals and academic associations and served on many grant review panels. Read more

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Our Faculty

Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning

TEIL research addresses big questions that have applications in the classroom and in society at large. This complex research involves immersive learning, artificial intelligence, and improvement-science design-based implementation, all of which involve interdisciplinary and innovative approaches.
About TEIL
Simmons Research

The Simmons School is ranked among the top 12 private graduate schools of education nationally and among the top 3 public & private schools in Texas.

2020-21 Research Snapshot

Changing Minds

The SMU Simmons School is dedicated to the development of scholars and professionals in the fields of education, counseling, and applied physiology. The interdisciplinary and collaborative work performed in Simmons focuses on creating and disseminating evidence-based knowledge through rigorous scholarship and high-quality teaching grounded in multiple perspectives.

Dr. Eric Bing presenting Virtual Reality Surgery Simulator

Labs and Partnerships