Opinion Blog


Rick Hess Straight Up

Education policy maven Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute think tank offers straight talk on matters of policy, politics, research, and reform. Read more from this blog.

Education Opinion

The 2019 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings

By Rick Hess — January 09, 2019 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Today, we unveil the 2019 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, ranking the university-based scholars in the U.S. who did the most last year to shape educational practice and policy. Simply being included in this list of 200 scholars is an accomplishment, given the tens of thousands who might qualify. The list includes the top finishers from last year, augmented by “at-large” nominees chosen by the 29-member selection committee (see yesterday’s post for a list of committee members, an explanation of the selection process, and all the salacious methodological details).

Without further ado, here are the 2019 rankings (scroll through the chart to see all names and scores). Please note that all university affiliations reflect a scholar’s institution as of December 2018.

Click here to view in a larger view (with zoom)

The 2019 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings


2019 RankingNameAffiliationGoogle ScholarBook PointsHighest Amazon RankingSyllabus PointsNewspaper MentionsEducation Press MentionsWeb MentionsCongressional Record MentionsKredTotal ScoreTwitter Handle
1Carol DweckStanford50.04.015.010.021.524.025.00.00.0149.5N/A
2Linda Darling-HammondStanford50.020.013.75.83.023.025.00.07.6148.1LDH_ed
3Howard GardnerHarvard50.020.015.010.06.58.025.00.07.3141.8DrHowardGardner
4Gloria Ladson-BillingsU. Wisconsin50.019.015.010.01.520.09.10.07.5132.1gjladson
5Jo BoalerStanford43.016.015.03.66.514.025.00.08.5131.6joboaler
6Sara Goldrick-RabTemple25.03.015.00.224.525.025.00.09.4127.1saragoldrickrab
7Paul E. PetersonHarvard50.020.00.010.04.58.025.00.06.6124.1Paul_E_Peterson
8Carol A. TomlinsonU. Virginia50.020.015.010.00.016.05.20.07.6123.8cat3y
9James E. RyanU. Virginia25.06.515.01.230.010.025.00.07.7120.4presjimryan
10Diane RavitchNYU43.020.015.05.44.08.014.80.09.9120.1DianeRavitch
11Raj ChettyHarvard45.00.50.00.830.013.025.05.00.0119.3N/A
12Larry CubanStanford50.020.09.110.01.08.012.70.07.2117.9CubanLarry
13Sam WineburgStanford46.06.015.010.06.06.019.80.07.5116.3samwineburg
14Angela DuckworthU. Penn48.02.015.00.88.06.025.00.07.7112.5angeladuckw
15James J. HeckmanU. Chicago50.02.00.010.09.58.025.00.07.7112.2heckmanequation
16Marc Lamont HillTemple15.09.015.00.230.07.025.00.09.9111.1marclamonthill
17Pedro NogueraUCLA40.010.012.82.28.014.015.40.08.3110.7PedroANoguera
18Yong ZhaoU. Kansas49.020.010.62.42.58.07.50.08.8108.8YongZhaoEd
19Andy HargreavesBoston College50.017.59.83.80.510.08.10.08.8108.5HargreavesBC
20Robert E. SlavinJohns Hopkins50.020.03.910.00.54.012.20.07.3107.9RobertSlavin
21 (tie)Richard RothsteinUC Berkeley36.013.015.03.010.50.025.05.00.0107.5N/A
21 (tie)Shaun R. HarperUSC49.07.515.00.29.512.06.40.07.8107.5DrShaunHarper
23Eric HanushekStanford50.013.50.08.08.52.017.20.07.0106.2EricHanushek
24Nel NoddingsStanford50.020.07.410.00.00.017.60.00.0104.9N/A
25Martin CarnoyStanford50.020.010.19.40.52.011.90.00.0104.0N/A
26Daniel T. WillinghamU. Virginia47.010.515.00.82.07.010.90.08.5101.7DTWillingham
27Richard ElmoreHarvard50.017.014.76.00.04.08.60.00.0100.2RichardElmore3
28Claude SteeleStanford50.05.015.01.84.00.023.70.00.099.5cmasonsteele
29Gary OrfieldUCLA50.020.03.12.26.03.09.80.03.897.9orfieldtweet
30Marybeth GasmanU. Penn35.018.50.00.68.011.013.30.07.894.2marybethgasman
31William G. TierneyUSC50.020.00.01.43.03.06.70.06.991.0TierneyBill
32Robert KelchenSeton Hall11.02.02.50.017.525.025.00.07.890.8rkelchen
33David C. BerlinerArizona State50.011.52.71.22.06.09.50.07.089.9DavidCBerliner
34Rob ReichStanford21.06.015.00.814.00.025.00.07.989.7robreich
35Michael KirstStanford50.013.00.02.64.06.06.90.06.589.0Michael_Kirst
36Martin (Marty) WestHarvard31.02.00.00.011.514.022.90.07.488.8ProfMartyWest
37Richard J. MurnaneHarvard50.06.515.01.60.02.013.50.00.088.6N/A
38Gene V. GlassUC Boulder50.014.52.27.80.02.04.40.07.488.4GeneVGlass
39Joseph MurphyVanderbilt50.020.00.01.20.50.016.60.00.088.3N/A
40 (tie)Caroline M. HoxbyStanford50.02.00.05.83.06.020.80.00.087.6N/A
40 (tie)Catherine SnowHarvard50.020.00.01.20.52.013.90.00.087.6N/A
42Henry LevinColumbia (TC)50.020.08.22.80.50.04.70.00.086.3N/A
43Jeannie OakesUCLA50.010.09.210.00.52.04.00.00.085.7Jeannie_Oakes
44Sean F. ReardonStanford47.00.00.00.612.54.021.50.00.085.6seanfreardon
45James P. ComerYale39.020.03.62.00.56.08.90.04.784.8drjamescomer
46Bruce FullerUC Berkeley50.014.50.00.67.08.04.00.00.084.1N/A
47Richard M. IngersollU. Penn50.02.03.82.26.512.07.20.00.083.8N/A
48Rich (Richard) MilnerVanderbilt45.08.015.00.61.04.03.60.06.483.6MilnerHRich
49David F. LabareeStanford32.015.513.53.81.59.03.10.04.583.0DLabaree
50Terry M. MoeStanford50.013.00.010.03.50.05.70.00.082.2N/A
51Jeffrey R. HenigColumbia (TC)40.013.512.61.20.512.02.30.00.082.1J_Henig
52Stephen W. RaudenbushU. Chicago50.04.014.16.60.00.07.10.00.081.8N/A
53Ken ZeichnerU. Washington50.09.013.74.00.00.01.00.04.081.7zeichnerkm
54Helen (Sunny) F. LaddDuke50.011.50.010.02.50.04.90.00.078.9sunnyladd
55Robert C. PiantaU. Virginia50.09.58.60.44.50.05.80.00.078.8bobpianta
56Dan GoldhaberU. Washington50.00.50.01.01.514.04.70.06.778.4CEDR_US
57 (tie)Donna FordVanderbilt50.08.50.01.81.50.09.00.07.578.2donnayford
57 (tie)Thomas KaneHarvard50.02.50.02.22.07.014.50.00.078.2N/A
59Nell K. DukeU. Michigan35.012.011.31.21.08.02.60.07.078.1nellkduke
60Larry V. HedgesNorthwestern50.01.58.44.60.51.011.30.00.077.3N/A
61 (tie)Tyrone HowardUCLA31.07.09.71.85.55.09.20.07.076.2TyroneCHoward
61 (tie)W. Steven BarnettRutgers50.01.50.01.08.06.07.70.02.076.2wstevenbarnett
63Marcelo Suarez-OrozcoUCLA43.013.50.010.03.50.04.80.00.074.8uclagseis_dean
64Louis GomezUCLA49.01.515.00.00.54.04.50.00.074.5N/A
65Susan M. DynarskiU. Michigan28.00.00.05.07.07.014.05.07.973.9dynarski
66William PenuelUC Boulder48.02.54.80.00.08.03.20.07.373.8bpenuel
67 (tie)Barbara SchneiderMichigan State45.09.010.11.20.02.06.30.00.073.6N/A
67 (tie)John A. PowellUC Berkeley23.02.512.80.83.00.025.00.06.573.6profjohnapowell
69Jay P. GreeneU. Arkansas44.04.50.00.42.04.010.50.07.773.1jaypgreene
70Jonathan PluckerJohns Hopkins48.06.54.00.01.02.04.20.07.072.7JonathanPlucker
71Nonie K. LesauxHarvard39.010.03.90.21.08.010.40.00.072.5N/A
72Christopher EmdinColumbia (TC)18.07.015.00.44.06.013.10.08.972.4chrisemdin
73Stephanie M. JonesHarvard35.02.00.02.41.56.025.00.00.071.9N/A
74Richard ArumUC Irvine31.011.514.92.20.05.07.10.00.071.7N/A
75Charles T. ClotfelterDuke50.08.50.04.62.53.02.90.00.071.5N/A
76Jeanne Brooks-GunnColumbia (TC)50.06.00.06.00.00.08.80.00.070.8N/A
77 (tie)Daniel KoretzHarvard39.07.53.20.85.08.07.00.00.070.5DanKoretz
77 (tie)Thomas BaileyColumbia (TC)16.08.013.90.63.04.025.00.00.070.5BaileyCCRC
79Lynn FuchsVanderbilt50.01.513.81.60.00.03.60.00.070.4N/A
80Gary T. HenryVanderbilt37.07.50.010.05.52.08.30.00.070.3gthenry4
81Jack P. ShonkoffHarvard40.01.50.02.02.50.023.90.00.069.9N/A
82Patricia GandaraUCLA50.05.51.90.06.02.03.80.00.069.2N/A
83Roland G. Fryer Jr.Harvard36.00.00.00.84.03.025.00.00.068.8N/A
84Bridget Terry LongHarvard37.00.00.00.05.09.011.80.05.968.7bterrylong
85Joshua AronsonNYU43.03.015.00.00.00.03.30.03.968.2Nurtureofintell
86James P. SpillaneNorthwestern50.06.00.02.20.02.02.60.05.268.0jamespspillane
87Adam GamoranU. Wisconsin50.03.00.01.00.04.02.70.07.067.7agamoran
88Laura W. PernaU. Penn50.03.50.00.40.52.04.40.06.767.5lauraperna1
89Thomas S. DeeStanford44.00.00.01.21.55.09.10.06.367.1Thomas_S_Dee
90Camilla Persson BenbowVanderbilt50.01.00.00.42.00.013.50.00.066.9N/A
91Marilyn Cochran-SmithBoston College50.09.50.01.40.00.05.90.00.066.8N/A
92 (tie)David L. KirpUC Berkeley33.017.50.03.60.00.05.80.06.766.6DavidKirp
92 (tie)Deborah Loewenberg BallU. Michigan50.01.50.00.41.52.04.60.06.666.6deborah_ball
94Sara Lawrence-LightfootHarvard21.017.015.02.41.52.07.60.00.066.5N/A
95 (tie)Estela Mara BensimonUSC33.010.58.00.81.02.04.20.06.265.7ebensimon
95 (tie)Heather C. HillHarvard38.00.50.01.21.00.025.00.00.065.7N/A
97Carol D. LeeNorthwestern36.02.50.01.60.00.025.00.00.065.1N/A
98Jonathan ZimmermanU. Penn11.013.00.06.05.512.017.20.00.064.7N/A
99 (tie)Bruce D. BakerRutgers32.03.52.20.45.00.012.60.07.963.6SchlFinance101
99 (tie)Jacob L. VigdorU. Washington42.02.00.00.65.52.05.20.06.363.6JakeVigdor
101David FiglioNorthwestern48.00.00.01.01.04.09.20.00.063.2N/A
102Christopher LubienskiIndiana U.38.04.00.00.21.01.011.30.07.663.1CLub_edu
103William SchmidtMichigan State45.06.50.00.20.02.03.40.05.462.5bschmidt_msu
104Susanna LoebBrown50.03.00.01.62.02.03.30.00.061.9SusannaLoeb
105Hirokazu YoshikawaNYU42.05.50.01.22.52.08.60.00.061.8N/A
106Okhee LeeNYU50.03.00.01.00.00.03.20.04.361.5LeeOl16
107H. Samy AlimUCLA28.01.015.00.80.04.04.60.07.861.2HSamyAlim
108Sylvia HurtadoUCLA50.03.50.01.20.01.05.40.00.061.1N/A
109 (tie)Joshua S. GoodmanHarvard15.00.00.00.23.017.018.60.06.860.6JoshuaSGoodman
109 (tie)Megan FrankeUCLA34.02.515.00.21.00.02.40.05.560.6meganlfranke
111Douglas N. HarrisTulane33.02.00.00.24.56.08.30.06.560.5douglasnharris
112Jal MehtaHarvard19.05.59.40.42.58.08.40.06.759.8jal_mehta
113Tressie McMillan CottomVCU5.05.014.90.01.517.06.50.09.759.6tressiemcphd
114Angela ValenzuelaUT Austin19.02.510.110.01.54.05.50.06.659.3vlnzl
115Michael A. RebellColumbia (TC)24.08.50.00.08.06.012.60.00.059.1N/A
116Patrick J. WolfU. Arkansas34.01.50.00.83.04.08.20.06.958.4P_Diddy_Wolf
117 (tie)Amy Stuart WellsColumbia (TC)38.08.50.01.05.00.05.20.00.057.7N/A
117 (tie)Margaret GroganChapman32.05.011.00.21.50.04.40.03.657.7edlead
119Brian A. JacobU. Michigan39.00.00.01.65.54.07.30.00.057.4N/A
120Eva BakerUCLA47.06.50.00.00.50.03.20.00.057.2N/A
121Vanessa Siddle WalkerEmory29.06.013.54.41.50.02.70.00.057.1N/A
122Roberto G. GonzalesHarvard21.03.010.62.05.01.07.60.06.756.9RGGonzales1
123Ernest MorrellNotre Dame32.012.00.00.80.00.03.80.07.856.5ernestmorrell
124Mike RoseUCLA16.013.013.45.01.00.07.90.00.056.3N/A
125 (tie)Douglas O. StaigerDartmouth50.00.50.02.20.00.03.20.00.055.9N/A
125 (tie)Ellen GoldringVanderbilt45.05.50.00.40.02.03.00.00.055.9N/A
127David J. DemingHarvard18.00.00.01.01.54.025.00.06.055.5ProfDavidDeming
128Julian BettsUC San Diego42.07.50.01.40.52.01.90.00.055.3N/A
129David K. CohenU. Michigan42.07.02.01.01.01.01.30.00.055.2N/A
130Howard StevensonU. Penn37.04.00.00.43.00.04.60.06.255.1DrHoward_RECAST
131Jason A. GrissomVanderbilt26.01.00.00.63.010.07.80.06.054.4JasonAGrissom
132Alfredo ArtilesArizona State48.03.50.00.40.00.02.30.00.054.2artilesaj
133Aaron M. PallasColumbia (TC)37.01.00.00.64.50.03.90.06.553.6AMPallas
134Kris D. GutierrezUC Berkeley44.01.00.00.00.00.02.30.06.253.4krisgu
135Sandra E. BlackUT Austin32.00.00.08.20.00.06.40.06.252.8Econ_Sandy
136Judith E. Scott-ClaytonColumbia (TC)21.00.00.00.28.510.06.80.06.252.7jscottclayton
137Carola Suarez-OrozcoUCLA42.03.00.00.00.00.07.00.00.052.0N/A
138Charles M. PayneRutgers16.07.514.93.40.50.09.40.00.051.8N/A
139James L. Moore IIIOhio State34.00.50.01.22.00.04.80.07.750.2DrJLMooreIII
140 (tie)Carolyn J. HeinrichVanderbilt39.02.00.00.20.00.03.20.05.449.8CJ_Heinrich
140 (tie)Josipa RoksaU. Virginia28.01.510.30.00.56.03.50.00.049.8N/A
142Kevin G. WelnerUC Boulder28.08.50.00.05.02.05.50.00.049.0N/A
143 (tie)Michael PodgurskyU. Missouri38.02.50.01.81.02.03.20.00.048.5podgurskym
143 (tie)Kenneth K. WongBrown33.010.50.01.01.50.02.50.00.048.5N/A
145 (tie)Donald E. HellerU. San Francisco30.04.50.01.61.02.02.10.07.248.4Donald_E_Heller
145 (tie)Margaret Beale SpencerU. Chicago44.00.50.00.01.50.02.40.00.048.4N/A
147Janelle ScottUC Berkeley23.01.00.00.03.00.015.10.06.248.3janelletscott
148Django ParisU. Washington14.03.515.00.60.06.01.60.07.348.0django_paris
149Sarah E. TurnerU. Virginia35.01.50.90.40.51.08.40.00.047.7turnersarahe
150 (tie)John F. WitteU. Wisconsin31.09.00.00.81.52.03.20.00.047.5N/A
150 (tie)Katharine StrunkMichigan State16.00.00.00.01.022.03.00.05.547.5KatharineStrunk
152Andrew HoHarvard26.00.00.00.20.04.010.90.06.447.4AndrewDeanHo
153Tim SassGeorgia State39.00.00.01.01.54.01.20.00.046.7N/A
154Dominic J. BrewerNYU37.04.50.01.01.50.01.50.00.045.5N/A
155Elaine AllensworthU. Chicago29.01.08.80.02.00.04.60.00.045.4E_Allensworth
156Jane HannawayGeorgetown32.05.00.01.00.00.00.60.04.843.4hannawayjane
157Patrick McGuinnDrew16.03.50.01.63.513.05.30.00.042.9N/A
158Jesse RothsteinUC Berkeley28.00.00.01.21.00.012.00.00.042.2N/A
159Ronald F. FergusonHarvard26.02.50.00.64.02.07.00.00.042.1N/A
160Gary MironWestern Michigan27.04.00.00.01.52.02.60.04.942.0WMU_EMO_StudyGp
161Mark BerendsNotre Dame32.02.50.00.21.00.02.00.04.141.8berendma
162William F. TateWash U.29.03.50.01.20.00.03.30.04.741.7DeanWFTate
163Erica FrankenbergPenn State29.03.00.00.01.00.03.10.05.441.5e_frankenberg
164Kirabo JacksonNorthwestern20.00.00.00.01.56.06.90.06.841.2KiraboJackson
165Pauline LipmanU. Illinois-Chicago29.06.00.03.00.50.02.60.00.041.1N/A
166Matthew A. KraftBrown21.00.00.00.02.58.02.80.06.841.0MatthewAKraft
167Pam GrossmanU. Penn31.01.00.00.82.51.04.00.00.040.3PamPennGSE
168Jack SchneiderU. Massachusetts Lowell9.06.011.30.00.00.05.90.07.840.0Edu_Historian
169Robert MarantoU. Arkansas24.012.50.00.20.50.02.50.00.039.7N/A
170Julian Vasquez HeiligCSU Sacramento20.00.00.00.00.54.07.20.07.939.6ProfessorJVH
171Michael LovenheimCornell24.01.00.00.20.58.05.20.00.038.9N/A
172Prudence L. CarterUC Berkeley15.04.50.07.21.00.04.00.07.038.6prudencelcarter
173Marcus A. WintersBoston U.27.04.00.00.00.00.00.70.06.738.5MarcusAWinters
174 (tie)Ron ZimmerU. Kentucky34.00.00.00.41.00.02.80.00.038.2N/A
174 (tie)Morgan PolikoffUSC20.00.00.00.00.06.04.20.08.038.2mpolikoff
176Dale BallouVanderbilt31.01.50.01.80.50.01.00.00.035.8N/A
177Lori Patton DavisIUPUI23.00.50.00.00.52.02.30.06.734.9LoriPattonDavis
178Eric BettingerStanford25.00.00.01.60.51.06.60.00.034.7N/A
179Cory KoedelU. Missouri21.00.50.00.00.52.04.50.05.634.1CoryKoedel
180Jonah RockoffColumbia (Business School)30.00.00.01.20.00.02.50.00.033.7N/A
181David E. KirklandNYU17.04.00.00.01.00.02.60.07.832.4davidekirkland
182Benjamin CastlemanU. Virginia16.03.50.00.00.51.02.90.07.431.3BenCastleman
183Jennifer JenningsPrinceton18.00.00.00.61.00.011.40.00.031.0N/A
184Joshua CowenMichigan State20.00.00.00.01.02.02.30.05.530.8joshcowenMSU
185Rucker JohnsonUC Berkeley19.01.00.00.23.00.07.50.00.030.7N/A
186Margaret (Macke) RaymondStanford16.00.00.01.81.52.06.80.00.028.1steading
187David SteinerJohns Hopkins12.00.00.00.41.59.05.10.00.028.0N/A
188Daphna BassokU. Virginia15.00.00.00.00.54.02.50.05.927.9daphnabassok
189Stella M. FloresNYU18.00.50.00.00.01.02.00.06.327.7ProfessorFlores
190John PapayBrown20.00.50.00.03.02.01.90.00.027.4N/A
191Nora E. GordonGeorgetown12.00.00.00.02.52.03.40.06.226.1NoraEGordon
192 (tie)Sarah ReckhowMichigan State10.02.00.00.01.52.03.90.06.525.9SReckhow
192 (tie)James H. WyckoffU. Virginia23.00.00.00.40.50.02.00.00.025.9N/A
194Vivian L. GadsdenU. Penn22.01.50.00.20.00.01.30.00.025.0N/A
195Michael FeuerGeorge Washington13.04.50.00.22.52.02.00.00.024.2mjfeuer
196Ruth N. Lopez TurleyRice16.00.00.00.00.04.01.30.02.824.1RuthLTurley
197Scott ImbermanMichigan State14.00.00.00.00.01.01.60.05.922.5scottimberman
198Sarah R. CohodesColumbia (TC)11.00.00.00.00.50.01.80.06.219.5SarahCohodes
199Mia TuanU. Washington11.03.00.02.60.00.02.00.00.018.6N/A
200Angela BoatmanVanderbilt10.00.00.00.00.02.01.40.00.013.4angelaboatman


The top scorers are all mostly familiar education names, though perhaps not as broadly familiar as in recent years. Topping the rankings was Stanford University’s Carol Dweck, the celebrated scholar of “growth mindset.” Rounding out the top five, in order, were Stanford’s Linda Darling-Hammond, Harvard’s Howard Gardner, University of Wisconsin’s Gloria Ladson-Billings, and Stanford’s Jo Boaler. The rest of the top ten included Temple’s Sara Goldrick-Rab, Harvard’s Paul Peterson, University of Virginia’s Carol Tomlinson, and University of Virginia president Jim Ryan.

Stanford political philosopher Rob Reich made the biggest single leap from last year, climbing 110 spots to 34th place. His rise was fueled by his new book Just Giving and a near tripling in newspaper mentions. Others making especially big jumps from 2018 included UC Berkeley’s John Powell, Harvard’s Joshua Goodman, Northwestern’s Carol Lee, and University of Pennsylvania’s Richard Ingersoll.

Stanford had an impressive year, placing three scholars in the top five, and five in the top 20. Harvard, the University of Virginia, and Temple also placed multiple scholars in the top 20. When it came to overall representation, Harvard led the way with 22 ranked scholars; Stanford was second, with 18; and UCLA was third, with 13. All told, 57 universities had at least one scholar make the cut.

Several top scorers penned influential books of (generally) recent vintage. Dweck’s popular Mindset: The New Psychology of Success continues to fare remarkably well, even 13 years after publication. Other books that did especially well were Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (2016), Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America (2018), Christopher Emdin’s For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood (2016), and Jo Boaler’s Mindset Mathematics: Visualizing and Investigating Big Ideas (2015). The titles of these volumes inevitably offer a snapshot into the popular mood.

Now, if readers want to argue the construction, reliability, or validity of any or all of these metrics, feel free. This whole endeavor is admittedly a highly imperfect exercise. Of course, the same can be said about college rankings, NFL quarterback ratings, or international scorecards of human rights. Yet, for all their imperfections, such efforts convey real information and help spark useful discussion. I hope the same is true here.

I welcome thoughts and questions and am happy to entertain any and all suggestions. So, take a look, and have at it.

Tomorrow, we’ll break down the top 10 faculty in each discipline, and highlight the top five junior faculty.

The opinions expressed in Rick Hess Straight Up are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.