November 12, 2025
Indianapolis, IN
The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Awards, honoring exceptional leaders whose achievements have significantly advanced the fields of learning design, instructional technology, and educational communication. These honorees exemplify AECT’s values of innovation, scholarship, and service, each leaving a lasting imprint on the profession and the AECT community.
2025 David H. Jonassen Excellence in Research Award
Recipient: Dr. Florence Martin
Dr. Florence Martin, Professor of Learning, Design, and Technology at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, is recognized with the David H. Jonassen Excellence in Research Award for her extensive research advancing online and digital learning environments. Her work on digital safety, cybersecurity education, and effective use of educational technologies continues to influence the field worldwide. Through her scholarship and mentorship, Dr. Martin exemplifies the spirit of inquiry and innovation that the Jonassen Award celebrates.
2025 James W. Brown Publication Award
Recipients: Dr. Robert Reiser and Dr. Alison Carr-Chellman
Dr. Robert Reiser, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus at Florida State University, and Dr. Alison Carr-Chellman, Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Dayton, receive the James W. Brown Publication Award for their co-authored publication Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (5th Ed.). Their collaborative work continues to bridge theory and practice in instructional design, offering clear, research-driven guidance that informs both teaching and professional application. Together, they have made significant contributions to the advancement of learning design and technology through decades of scholarship, mentorship, and leadership in AECT.
2025 James W. Brown Publication Honorable Mention
Recipients: Dr. Rick West and Dr. Heather Leary
Dr. Rick West and Dr. Heather Leary are recognized as an honorable mention for the James W. Brown Publication Award for their open-access textbook, Foundations of Learning and Instructional Design Technology: Historical Roots & Current Trends (2nd Ed.). Their leadership in developing this widely used and collaboratively authored resource has expanded access to high-quality instructional design scholarship around the world. Through their commitment to openness, innovation, and educational equity, Drs. West and Leary embody AECT’s values of advancing learning through design, research, and collaboration.
2025 J. Michael Spector Appreciation Award
Recipients: Dr. Lin Lin Lipsmeyer and Dr. Tristan Johnson
Dr. Lin Lin Lipsmeyer (Southern Methodist University) and Dr. Tristan Johnson (Boston College) are honored with the J. Michael Spector Appreciation Award for their exceptional long-term leadership and service to AECT as Editors-in-Chief of AECT’s flagship journal, Educational Technology Research & Development (ETR&D).
Dr. Lipsmeyer served as Editor-in-Chief for the Development section from 2018–2024, and Dr. Johnson has led the Research section since 2014. Their vision and dedication have cultivated a thriving community of scholars and advanced AECT’s mission of promoting excellence in research and practice. With a steadily rising impact factor and increasing global reach, their work has inspired new generations of scholars, advanced rigorous research standards, and strengthened AECT’s commitment to academic excellence.
2025 Special Service Award
Recipient: Jennifer Bauman
Jennifer Bauman, Director of Learning Solutions at GP Strategies, receives the Special Service Award in recognition of her longstanding commitment to AECT and its community of practice. Since joining AECT in 2008, Bauman has been a dedicated leader and advocate for professional development, serving in various roles within the organization and its divisions. Her enthusiasm for mentorship, focus on inclusive leadership, and creativity in advancing AECT initiatives have made her an invaluable contributor to the organization’s mission of transforming learning through technology and design.
2025 Distinguished Service Award
Recipient: Dr. Otto Benavides
Dr. Otto Benavides, Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fresno, is recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for his decades of dedicated leadership and advocacy in educational communications and technology. Throughout his career, Dr. Benavides has championed global collaboration and innovative learning approaches, fostering international partnerships that reflect AECT’s commitment to equity, access, and excellence in education.
About AECT
The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is an international organization that values diversity of thought, culture, and people, with a mission to improve learning through educational technology. AECT members include instructional designers, researchers, educators, and professionals dedicated to advancing the field through research, best practices, and innovation. AECT provides a collaborative space for thought leadership and knowledge-sharing across academic and professional settings.