TRANSITIONS: Summer is always a busy time for comings and goings in education and education research. A transition of note at the Washington-based American Institutes of Research, or AIR, is the departure of Sol H. Pelavin, the organization’s president and chief executive officer. He plans to retire in December.
Pelavin came to AIR in 1994 when the research firm that he founded—Pelavin Associations Inc.—merged with AIR. During his time at AIR’s helm, annual revenue increased from $12 million to $300 million, according to the organization.
His replacement will be David Myers, the current director of AIR’s education, human development and the workforce division, and one of the few people in education who knows his way around a randomized controlled trial.
At D.C.'s George Washington University, Michael J. Feuer has been named to replace Mary Hatwood Futrell as dean of the school of education. Feuer is currently director of the division of behavioral and social sciences and education at the National Research Council of the National Academies, which is the group that advises the federal government on scientific matters. His most recent book, Moderating the Debate: Rationality and the Promise of American Education, explores the sometimes-rocky relationship between education research, policy, and practice. Feuer takes over Sept. 1.
Meanwhile, Futrell, who is best known for her longtime stewardship of the National Education Association, will remain on the faculty at the education school. She served as GWU’s graduate ed school dean for 15 years.