Honorary Membership

The association includes a small number of individual honorary members whose election is based on their excellent contributions to the work and mission of IEA over many years. The award of honorary membership takes place at the annual meeting of the IEA General Assembly.

 
 
Gordon M. Ambach
(1934–2018)

Retired in June 2001. Chief executive officer of the Council of Chief State School Officers (1987–2001) and education commissioner for New York (1970–1987). Served on numerous policy and advisory panels on studies in education, assessment, and educational reform and improvement throughout his 50-year career in education administration. Appointed as an IEA General Assembly representative for the United States in 1990, and served on the IEA Standing Committee from 1991 to 2001. Played a key role in transforming IEA into a professional organization and developing links with funders. Also contributed significantly to the creation of a policy for IEA's cycle of studies.

 
 
Zoltán Báthory 
(1931–2011)

Professor of education at the University of Szeged in Hungary since 1993. Also worked as a teacher, school inspector, educational researcher, and deputy state secretary responsible for school education in Hungary. Affiliated with IEA since 1968, and served as a representative of Hungary to the IEA General Assembly until 1994. Member of the Academy of Europe, chair of the educational committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and member of various other scholarly boards and committees. Published a number of books and over 150 articles on the theory of teaching and learning, curriculum development, and educational assessment.

 
 
Albert E. Beaton
(1931-2022)

Professor emeritus at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College, and former director of Boston College's Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation, and Educational Policy. Ed.D. from Harvard University. Previously spent 27 years at Educational Testing Service directing research in psychometrics and data analysis, and directed the design, research, and data analysis for the United States National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Served as chair of the IEA Technical Advisory Committee from 1989 to 1993, and was the international coordinator of TIMSS 1995.

 
 
Benjamin Bloom
(1913–1999)

Professor of education at the University of Chicago, and founder and chair of the university's program in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (MESA). Founding member of IEA, where he initiated the Pilot Twelve-Country Study and First International Mathematics Study (FIMS). Consultant on educational evaluation and curriculum development to nations throughout the world. President of the American Educational Research Association from 1965 to 1966, and member of the United States National Academy of Education. Author or co-author of 17 major books and numerous journal articles.

 
 
Christiane Brusselmans-Dehairs

Retired in 2007. As a researcher at Ghent University, was involved in a number of IEA studies since 1970, including the Six Subject Survey, Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS), and Computers in Education Study (COMPED). National research coordinator for the 1995, 1999, and 2003 cycles of TIMSS. Served as an IEA General Assembly representative for the Belgium Flemish community (1992–1997) and as a member of the IEA Standing Committee, representing both the Flemish and Walloon communities of Belgium. Author of several IEA-related publications and reports.

 
 
Gilbert L. de Landsheere
(1922–2001)

Professor of education, dean of the School of Psychology and Education (1972–1979 and 1982–1983), and head of the Laboratoire de Pédagogie Expérimentale at the University of Liège. President of the Belgium University Foundation, chair of the Foundation of European Regions for Research, Education, and Training, and chair of the International Academy of Education. Founding member of the Academia Europaea, deputy chair of the King Baudouin Foundation, and member of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education council. Representative of the French community of Belgium to IEA and member of its Standing Committee. Author of 17 books translated into nine languages and 260 articles.

 
 
Robert Garden
(2022)

Retired in 1992. Degrees in education and mathematics/science (London). Director of research and statistics in the New Zealand Ministry of Education (1989–1992), and curriculum officer in the New Zealand Department of Education (1974–1977). Also worked as a deputy principal (1972–1974) and secondary school teacher of mathematics and science (1957–1971). National research coordinator for New Zealand in the IEA Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS), and mathematics coordinator for the 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 cycles of TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced 2008. Longstanding member of the IEA Publications and Editorial Committee.

 
 
Jüriaan Hartenberg
(2024)

As financial manager of IEA for over a decade (2002-2013), played a key role in assuring IEA's continued financial stability through the growth of the association's membership, international assessment projects, its secretariat, and data processing and research center. Completed a diploma in international financial management at the Amsterdam School of Economics and Business and undertook postgraduate education as a financial controller at the Open University Heerlen in the Netherlands. Previously financial controller of Van Os Beheer, and assistant marketing manager and traffic manager for services to the Caribbean and Central America at the Royal Dutch Shipping Company.

 
 
Seamus Hegarty

Involved with IEA over many years as chair (2005–2012), earlier serving as a representative for England to the IEA General Assembly. As director of the National Foundation for Educational Research (1993–2005) supervised IEA studies in England, and previously worked as a research manager, researcher, and teacher. Directed a large number of research projects covering special needs, ethnic minority issues, assessment, professional development, and local authority services. Advisor for several national and international bodies, including UNESCO, OECD, and the European Union. Ph.D. from the University of London (1974). Wrote or co-authored more than 20 books and numerous papers in education. Current Chair of the Publications and Editorial Committee.

 
 
Torsten Husén
(1916–2009)

Professor emeritus of Stockholm University. Honorary doctorates from universities in Europe and the United States. Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Foreign member of the United States National Academy of Education, Polish Academy of Sciences, and Finnish Academy of Sciences. Honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Served on various UNESCO committees and was a consultant to the OECD. Chair of IEA (1962–1978) and appointed honorary president in 1978. Co-editor-in-chief of the first and second editions of the International Encyclopedia of Education and founding president of the International Academy of Education. Author of over 40 books.

 
 
Anne-Berit Kavli

IEA Chair from 2012-2018 and long-serving member of the General Assembly as a representative for Norway. As Head of Department at the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (2014-present), she coordinates international activities, including Norway's participation in large-scale, international studies on learning outcomes. In addition to her work with IEA, she has worked closely with the OECD as chair for the TALIS Board of Participating Countries and a member of the PISA Governing Board. Currently, she is an active participant in the UNESCO-led Global Alliance to Monitor Learning (GAML) partnership. As the previous Head of the Department for Research and International affairs at the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training, her main activities included the coordination and follow-up of national research-based evaluation programs in primary and secondary education.

 
 
John P. Keeves
(1924–2020)

Retired professor of education (Flinders University of South Australia). Director of the Australian Council for Educational Research (1977–1984), research fellow at Australian National University and Stockholm University, and secondary school mathematics and science teacher in Australia and England (1947–1962). Involved in IEA studies since the 1960s, serving as a national research coordinator for the First International Mathematics Study (FIMS), steering committee member of the First International Science Study (FISS), and project council chair for the Second International Science Study (SISS). Chair of the IEA Technical Executive Group (1982–1989). Author or editor of many IEA-related publications.

 
 
Rainer Lehmann

Professor of educational research and research methods at Humboldt University in Berlin since 1994. Former professor of empirical research at the University of Hamburg (1980–1994). Doctoral degrees in theology and education, and awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Hamburg in 2005. Engaged with IEA studies since the 1980s, serving as a national research coordinator for the Written Composition Study, Reading Literacy Study, and TIMSS 1995, as well as the international coordinator for CIVED. Was appointed as an IEA General Assembly representative for Germany from 1994 to 2007. Author or co-author of 15 books and more than 80 articles. Member of the IEA Publications and Editorial Committee.

 
 
Kimmo Leimu

Retired in 1999. Degrees in education (Helsinki and Jyväskylä). Since 1967, researcher and leader of an evaluation research group at the Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä. National research coordinator for the IEA Six Subject Survey, Second International Science Study (SISS) (also a member of the steering committee), and CIVED. Served as Finland's representative to the IEA General Assembly (1974–1996), chair of the IEA Training Committee (1983–1985), and member of the IEA Standing Committee (1983–1987), Policy and Procedures Committee (1983–1985), and Publications and Editorial Committee (1986–1989). Author of IEA and other assessment-related publications and reports.

 
 
Frederick K.S. Leung

Kintoy Professor in Mathematics Education and Chair Professor, Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. Professor Leung has led a distinguished career in mathematics education and research, with a particular interest in cultural differences in mathematics education. Internationally, Professor Leung has worked as an expert consultant to the World Bank, UNESCO and the United Nations Development Program. He has published extensively and received numerous national and international awards for his research, including the prestigious Hans Freudenthal Medal from the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction in 2013.

Professor Leung has been a valued member of the IEA network for more than 25 years. He served as the Hong Kong National Research Coordinator for TIMSS 1995 to 2019, a member of the General Assembly from 1998 to 2019he is currently serving another term as a General Assembly Representativeand a member of the Standing Committee from 2007 to 2010. 

 
 
Svein Lie

Since 1991, professor of science education in the Department of Teacher Education and School Research (ILS) at the University of Oslo. Taught university courses in research methods, statistics, science education, and nuclear physics. Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics (University of Oslo). Involved in the IEA's TIMSS over many years, serving as a national research coordinator for TIMSS 1995, chair/member of advisory committees for the 1995, 1999, and 2003 cycles of TIMSS, and physics coordinator for TIMSS Advanced 2008. Longstanding member of the IEA Publications and Editorial Committee. Author or co-author of numerous publications related to education and educational assessment.

 
 
Michael O. Martin

Executive Director of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center for over 30 years, until his retirement in 2021. Developed the Reading Literacy Study through TIMSS 1995 and founded PIRLS in 2001, building a long-standing reputation for excellence in international assessment. Serves since 1992 as a member of the IEA Technical Executive Group. Research Professor at Boston College.

 
 
Barbara Malak-Minkiewicz

From 1996 to 2013, manager of membership relations at IEA. Heavily involved in the development of IEA's civic and citizenship education studies as a member of the CIVED steering committee and ICCS 2009 project advisory committee. Ph.D. in social sciences from the University of Warsaw, where for 18 years she taught social and developmental psychology and conducted research on socialization, interpersonal and inter-group conflict, and aggression. Also lectured at universities in the Netherlands and United States. Consultant to the Polish Ministry of Education on the educational reform in Poland, and in other countries. Previously a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and spokesperson for the Polish trade union Solidarność.

 
 
Ina V.S. Mullis

Ina Mullis has been a long-serving and valued member of the IEA network and the IEA Technical Executive Group. As Executive Director of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College and a Professor in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Ina has led and contributed to various assessment methods and research advances. They have played a key leadership role in building TIMSS and PIRLS into the global assessment programs they are today.

 
 
Constantinos Papanastasiou
(1940–2012)

Professor at the University of Cyprus from 1993, retired in 2008. Ph.D. from Kent State University, United States. Specialized in educational research, statistics, measurement, and evaluation. Representative for Cyprus to the IEA General Assembly (1992–2008) and member of the IEA Standing Committee (1999–2001). National research coordinator for the IEA Reading Literacy Study, Language Education Study, CIVED, PIRLS 2001, and TIMSS 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. Author or editor of more than 10 books and many articles related to IEA studies. Founder of the IEA International Research Conference (IRC), having organized the first in Cyprus in 2004.

 
 
Roy W. Phillipps
(1926–2007)

After teaching high school science for 19 years, held senior positions in curriculum development in the Ministry of Education of New Zealand over the next 18 years. In 1968, was appointed New Zealand national technical officer for the IEA Six Subject Survey. Served as an executive director of IEA from 1972 to 1974, and was the New Zealand representative to the IEA General Assembly from 1974 to 1985. Helped initiate the IEA Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS), and served as chair of the study's project council. Edited and published reports related to the Six Subject Survey.

 
 
Tjeerd Plomp
(1938-2021)

Retired in 1999. Professor at the University of Twente in the Netherlands since 1981, serving as dean of the Faculty of Educational Science and Technology (1982–1985) and Director of the Institute for Applied Educational Research (OCTO) (1986–1989). A former representative for the Netherlands to the IEA General Assembly (1987–1989) and Chair of IEA (1989–1999). Served as Chair of the IEA steering committee for several IEA studies (TIMSS 1995, SITES-M1, and SITES-M2), and director of the IEA Computers in Education Study (COMPED) and SITES 2006. Member of several learned societies, author of many articles, and contributions to books. Honorary doctorate from Ghent University, Belgium.

 
 
T. Neville Postlethwaite
(1933–2009)

Appointed professor of comparative education at the University of Hamburg in Germany in 1976. Research officer at the National Foundation for Educational Research (1961–1963). First executive director of IEA (1962–1972), staff member of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning in Paris (1972–1976), and chair of IEA (1978–1986). Co-editor-in-chief of the first and second editions of the International Encyclopedia of Education. International coordinator of the IEA First International Mathematics Study (FIMS), Six Subject Survey, and Reading Literacy Study. Author or co-author of a number of books, research reports, journal articles, and special consultancy reports in education.

 
 
Alan C. Purves
(1931–1996)

Professor of education and acting director of the Center for Writing and Literacy at the State University of New York at Albany (1986–1996). Former head of the Laboratory School and professor at the University of Illinois (1970–1986). Conducted research on teaching and testing in literature and writing, the curriculum, educational policy, educational objectives in the humanities and literacy, and literacy criticism. Served as chair of the IEA from 1986 to 1990, and was the international coordinator of the IEA Study of Literature Education (part of the Six Subject Survey) and Written Composition Study.

 
 
David F. Robitaille

Retired professor and head of the Department of Curriculum Studies at the University of British Columbia. Appointed as a representative of British Columbia, Canada to the IEA General Assembly for 18 years (1978–1996) and member of the IEA Standing Committee (1986–1988). Leader of the IEA Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS). Responsible for the initial development of TIMSS 1995 and head of its international coordinating center at the University of British Columbia. Author of numerous IEA-related publications. Former chair of the IEA Publications and Editorial Committee.

 
 
Thierry Rocher

Director for Evaluation at DEPP at the Ministère de l’éducation nationale in France. He is a specialist in educational measurement and psychometrics, sharing his expertise with IEA since 2011. Elected as IEA Chair at the 59th General Assembly meeting in 2018, and previously served as a Standing Committee member and General Assembly representative for France.

 
 
Jack Schwille

Professor at Michigan State University since 1982 and, in 1984, became assistant dean for international studies in education. Former chief of the Measurement and Methodology Division at the United States National Institute of Education (1975–1977). Conducted field work and projects on international development in education in a number of countries, including Tanzania, Guinea, and Burundi. Involved with IEA studies since the Six Subject Survey in 1971, member of the steering committee for CIVED, and co-director of TEDS-M. Author or co-author of numerous publications related to education, especially in an international context.

 
 
Alejandro Tiana

Director of the Center for Advanced Studies at the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) since 2008, and professor of theory and history of education at the National University of Distance Education in Spain. Former secretary general of education (2004–2008), director of the National Institute for Quality of Education (1994–1996), and director of the Center for Educational Research, Documentation, and Evaluation (1989–1993) at the Ministry of Education in Spain. Representative of Spain to the IEA General Assembly, member of the IEA Standing Committee (1992–1994), and chair of IEA (1999–2004). Author or co-author of 19 books and over 150 chapters and articles on education.

 
 
Judith Torney-Purta

Professor of human development in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park from 1981 until her retirement as Emeritus Professor in 2014. Previously professor of psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago (1970–1981). Involved in IEA's studies on civic education, serving as a member of the international committee and author for the Study of Civic Education (part of the Six Subject Survey), chair of the steering committee for CIVED, and member of the planning and advisory committee for the ICCS studies. Author of numerous publications in this and related areas, and recipient of many awards and honors. Elected as a Member of the National Academy of Education in the United States in 2014.

 
 
Aldo Visalberghi
(1917–2007)

Professor emeritus of the University of Rome. Degrees in philosophy and education from the University of Pisa. In 1943 fought with partisans in the liberation war against the Nazi fascists. Arrested twice, and released in 1945. Fulbright fellow in the United States (1952–1953), professor of education at the University of Milan, and professor of history of education at the University of Turin in Italy. From 1979 to 1991, president of the Italian IEA-related center, the European Center for Education (CEDE) in Frascati. Involved in IEA studies from the very beginning with the Six Subject Survey. Director of the journal Scuola e Città ('School and City') and author of many publications.

 
 
Hans Wagemaker

Involved with IEA for more than 30 years, serving as a national research coordinator for the Reading Literacy Study and TIMSS 1995, an IEA General Assembly representative for New Zealand, a member of the IEA Standing Committee, and executive director of IEA (1997–2014). Contributed significantly to the development of IEA's activities in the area of training and capacity building in low–middle income countries. Ph.D. in educational policy studies (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign). Previously senior manager and researcher in the Research and International Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank, UNESCO, and the World Bank.

 
 
Richard M. Wolf
(1934–2004)

Professor of psychology and education (1968–1998) and chair of the Department of Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics for 12 years at the Teachers College of Columbia University. Member of the International Academy of Education. Participated in the IEA First International Mathematics Study (FIMS), Six Subject Survey, Second International Science Study (SISS), and Computers in Education Study (COMPED). United States General Assembly representative for IEA (1976–1990) and former chair of the IEA Publications and Editorial Committee. Authored more than 50 publications, and served as a consultant to various national and international organizations in education.