IOWA CITY, Iowa—Terry A. Ackerman, an internationally renowned psychometrician with particular expertise in item-response theory, differential item functioning, and computerized testing, has been named ACT’s first Lindquist Chair.
The holder of the Lindquist Chair will receive support and freedom to conduct research that benefits society and science. The position is named in honor of E.F. Lindquist, ACT’s co-founder and one of the 20th century’s most significant researchers and practitioners in the field of assessment.
“We are committed to creating a team of top scientists to accelerate ACT’s fast-moving research and program development, and Dr. Ackerman’s appointment is a significant next step in that effort,” said Marten Roorda, ACT chief executive officer. “With his exceptional research productivity and professional leadership, and with his recognized success teaching students, mentoring colleagues and recruiting diverse individuals into our profession, we have found a truly deserving individual to serve as Lindquist Chair.”
Ackerman currently serves as associate dean of research and assessment at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Education. In addition, he is the current president of the Psychometric Society and past-president of the National Council on Measurement in Education. He also serves on technical advisory committees for College Board, ETS, GRE, Measured Progress, and the U.S. Department of Defense, among others.
“As a society we need to develop early warning systems in areas such as literacy, as well as with non-cognitive behaviors that affect educational achievement,” said Ackerman. “The Lindquist Chair is an exciting opportunity to advance ACT’s role in addressing issues related to learning, work productivity and educational assessment. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues inside and outside ACT to make fundamental advances in our profession’s important work.”
Ackerman began his career teaching mathematics in Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin, before joining ACT’s research department five years during the mid-1980s. He later joined the University of Illinois as a faculty member before moving to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) as a professor and later chair in the Department of Educational Research Methodology.
“Each year at UNCG we convene a national research symposium to tackle a leading issue affecting education,” said Ackerman. “We involve leaders of national foundations and of local schools. My goal was to make UNCG a seminal source for policy makers, which we have done, and I am now anxious to further cement ACT’s reputation as a global leader in education research, innovation, and measurement.”
Ackerman earned his Ph.D. in educational measurement and statistics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, from which he also earned his master’s degree. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He will begin his duties at ACT this fall.