Auburn College of Education faculty celebrate year of scholarly impact at 2026 Auburn Authors Awards

Auburn University’s College of Education continues to demonstrate national and global leadership in teaching, learning and educational research, as multiple faculty members were honored for books published in the past year during the 2026 Auburn Authors Awards celebration, held recently in the Corner Office at Auburn Research Park.

The annual celebration recognizes Auburn faculty and staff who published book-length scholarly or creative works in the previous calendar year and is co-sponsored by Auburn University Libraries and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development. 

College of Education faculty were prominently represented among this year’s honorees, reflecting the college’s broad impact across adult education, educational leadership, teacher preparation, literacy, special education, instructional design and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Advancing Learning Across the Lifespan

Among those recognized was Associate Professor Leslie A. Cordie for her book Transition from Pedagogy to Andragogy: An International Perspective. Featuring contributions from experts across various countries, this book explores how higher education systems are adapting to the specific needs of adult learners while engaging with global trends. Each chapter delves into unique practices, policies, and challenges shaping learning experiences in different regions, providing readers with a broader understanding of the transformative period in higher education that prepares young adults for lifelong learning. Reflective questions at the end of each chapter encourage readers to engage deeply with the topics discussed.

Illuminating Leadership in Higher Education

Also recognized was Professor Ellen H. Reames, whose edited volume, Navigating the Ubiquitous, Misunderstood, and Evolving Role of the Educational Leadership Program Coordinator in Higher Education, addresses a role critical to leadership preparation yet often overlooked in scholarly literature. Co-edited with Noelle A. Paufler, the book focuses on the role of the program coordinator (PC) in educational leadership. The book examines various aspects of the PC role, including responsibilities, navigating the politics and policies of higher education and educational agencies, internal and external problems and barriers related to the role, and recommendations and possibilities for enhancing the PC role.

Scholarship Born from a Global Crisis

Professors Jill D. Salisbury-Glennon and Chih-Hsuan Wang were honored for two complementary works examining education during the COVID-19 global pandemic: Examining the Cognitive and Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic on High School, College, and Graduate Learners and Instructional Survival in the Midst of the Perfect Storm: The Experiences of K–12 Teachers During the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. Together, the volumes document how learners and educators navigated unprecedented disruption, offering both empirical insight and guidance for future educational resilience.

Supporting Families and Early Learning

Professor Paris S. Strom was recognized for Parents and Grandparents as Teachers: Supporting Child Development from Infancy Through Age 8, a book he co-wrote with his father, Professor Emeritus Robert D. Strom of Arizona State University. The book is designed for independent reading and community-based courses. It emphasizes how parents and grandparents can work together to support young children’s emotional, social and cognitive development. Each chapter includes key concepts, reflection questions and Generational Perspectives Activities to encourage family conversations and self-evaluation. The father-son duo’s earlier publication, Mental Health and Relationships from Early Adulthood through Old Age, guides readers through the stages of adulthood, addressing stress, caregiving, intergenerational relationships and personal growth. Aimed at college students and professionals, the book blends academic research with personal narratives and student interviews to illuminate mental health and relationship dynamics across generations.

Practical Resources for Today’s Classrooms

Professor Sara Wolf contributed to the growing need for intellectual property literacy in education with her book Teaching Copyright: Practical Lesson Ideas & Instructional Resources. According to its summary online, the book provides explicit guidance based on U.S. copyright law in the teaching of copyright and related concepts to learners at schools, colleges and universities. Instructors are supported with time-saving resources such as lesson templates, scenarios, practice activities and a downloadable test question bank.

Inquiry-Based Learning

Associate Professor Jesús Tirado and Tim Monreal, an assistant professor of Learning and Instruction at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, USA, co-authored Hollywood or History? An Inquiry-Based Strategy for Teaching LatinX History, a resource for educators seeking to critically integrate Latinx histories and media representations into social studies curricula. The book aims to help classroom teachers include more (accurate) Latinx stories in their classroom. The book emphasizes inquiry-based learning, encouraging teachers and students to examine accuracy, power and representation in film, television and historical narratives.

Empowering the Spectrum of Independence

Assistant Professor Christine Drew, alongside co-author Katie Lombardi, was honored for Spectrum of Independence: How to Teach Your Neurodiverse Child Daily Life Skills. Published by Guilford Press, the book provides evidence-based strategies to help families foster independence in neurodiverse children, offering practical guidance rooted in compassion, research and real-world application.

Strong showing

The strong showing by the College of Education at this year’s Auburn Author Awards underscores Auburn’s land-grant mission to generate knowledge that improves lives locally and globally. With scholarship spanning early childhood through adult education and addressing both timeless challenges and emerging issues, College of Education faculty continue to shape the future of learning across disciplines and communities. Additional faculty-authored works are expected later this year, further expanding the college’s global scholarly reach.