Our Story.
POWER was conceptualized in 2015 over a conference dinner of friends who had all met through similar training paths at the doctoral or post-doctoral level. We realized at this dinner that we were all facing similar challenges in research, advancement, and service. It seemed to us (and some research later confirmed) that even though there are many women in the field of education, most of the leading experts and loudest voices belonged to men.
We acknowledged that we have been an excellent support group for one another, and that many researchers do not have access to the same community of scholars, even in the female-dominated field of education.
Around this same time, reporters and researchers were realizing that they weren’t citing women, media stories began to highlight issues of only including men on research panels, still other writers recognize that citing more women is only the last step in a long process of gender discrimination.
After some informal conversations, we held our first meeting in May 2017. During this meeting, we laid the groundwork to build an organization that could provide a community to all education researchers, with a special focus on supporting those who identify as women or non-binary. It is our goal to make ourselves obsolete.
We acknowledged that we have been an excellent support group for one another, and that many researchers do not have access to the same community of scholars, even in the female-dominated field of education.
Around this same time, reporters and researchers were realizing that they weren’t citing women, media stories began to highlight issues of only including men on research panels, still other writers recognize that citing more women is only the last step in a long process of gender discrimination.
After some informal conversations, we held our first meeting in May 2017. During this meeting, we laid the groundwork to build an organization that could provide a community to all education researchers, with a special focus on supporting those who identify as women or non-binary. It is our goal to make ourselves obsolete.
Founding Members
Mindy Sittner Bridges, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-2022)
Sonia Cabell, Ph.D. - Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-2021)
Jaclyn M. Dynia, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Hope K. Gerde, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Sara A. Hart, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Jessica A. R. Logan, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Jill M. Pentimonti, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Shayne B. Piasta, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Beth M. Phillips, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Brook Sawyer, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Lori E. Skibbe, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Emily J. Solari, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Tricia Zucker, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-2020)
Sonia Cabell, Ph.D. - Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-2021)
Jaclyn M. Dynia, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Hope K. Gerde, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Sara A. Hart, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Jessica A. R. Logan, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Jill M. Pentimonti, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Shayne B. Piasta, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Beth M. Phillips, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Brook Sawyer, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Lori E. Skibbe, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Emily J. Solari, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-Present)
Tricia Zucker, Ph.D. Steering Committee member and Founding member (2017-2020)
