Three Arkansas professors named in academic public influence rankings

Three University of Arkansas professors have been honored as members of this year’s American Enterprise Institute Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings for their research and influence in educational reform.

Jay Greene was No. 45 in the nation, while Robert Maranto and Patrick Wolf were listed as Nos. 113 and 114, respectively. The title is familiar for the faculty members as each has made the list since the rankings were established in 2010.

Greene, who joined the University of Arkansas in 2005, is the head of the Department of Education Reform in the College of Education and Health Professions. His research includes the effects of cultural field trips for achievement, special education, and graduation rates for high schools. 

Maranto’s research is grounded in educational and political leadership, as well as charter schools. Maranto has been with the university faculty since 2008.

Wolf has been teaching at the university since 2006, with his field of study focused on school choice and voucher programs.

Frederick Hess directs the American Enterprise Institute’s section for education policy studies. Hess is charged with compiling the conservative think tank’s list of America’s 200 top university scholars whose work transitions from academia to the public conversation.

"One small way to encourage academics to step into the fray and revisit academic norms is, I think, by doing more to recognize and value those scholars who engage in public discourse," Hess said. "As I see it, the extraordinary policy scholar excels in five areas: disciplinary scholarship, policy analysis and popular writing, convening and shepherding collaborations, providing incisive media commentary, and speaking in the public square.”