Graduate psychology students present at NERA conference

Students in both the Assessment and Measurement PhD program and the Psychological Sciences MA program recently attended the NERA conference. Here they presented their research, networked with employers and alumni, and benefited from several professional development sessions.

Below, students write about their experience in their own words.

Kobena K. Eshun (Second year, Quantitative Psychology Concentration, Psychological Sciences Master's Program). Attending NERA 2026 as a first-time attendee was the perfect mix of learning, networking, and fun! Presenting my research at a symposium was a major highlight that gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward in my work. The days were packed with great sessions, ranging from workshops, poster presentations, and Generative AI roundtables to expert panels on testing in medicine and education. In the evenings, casual socials made it easy to unwind, reconnect with old friends, and bond with fellow grad students from other schools. Wrapping up the trip with my conference mentor, who shared invaluable advice and listened to my goals, made the experience deeply rewarding and left me incredibly motivated for the future!

Suyu Wang (second-year, Assessment and Measurement PhD program) attended NERA for the first time in Trumbull, CT, in October 2026, where she presented research conducted with Dr. Yu Bao and Dr. John Hathcoat on using large language models (LLMs) to score ethical reasoning essays. Their study examined how different prompting strategies and reference materials affect agreement between AI and human scores, scoring stability, and scoring severity. One of the highlights of her NERA experience was attending two employer panels, one focused on medical testing and the other on evaluating the efficacy of educational products. Hearing from professionals in these two areas helped her better understand the different career opportunities available in measurement. These discussions also reinforced her interest in pursuing a career in K-12 education.

Xiaonan Zhang (First-Year, Assessment and Measurement PhD Program). This was my third NERA, and I attended without presenting this year. The people are as great as ever, and because so many attendees return annually, conversations pick up right where we left off. The workshops are another reason I keep coming; I’ve learned about causes of CFA misfit, diagnostic cognitive models, and Bayesian statistics from NERA workshops. This year, the AI sessions also shifted. Last year, they felt like people trying different things that weren’t quite there yet; this year, there were concrete examples of AI embedded in workflows, such as drafting items and classifying items into domains. Next year is a JMU year, and I’m looking forward to returning, hopefully as a presenter.

Autumn Wild (fourth-year doctoral student, Assessment & Measurement) attended her third NERA conference this year. During the conference, she participated in a pre-conference workshop, networked with fellow professionals, and attended several panel sessions focused on career opportunities after graduate school. Overall, Autumn thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with peers, expanding her professional network, and spending time in beautiful Trumbull, Connecticut. She looks forward to attending future NERA conferences!

Hunter Castleton (1st Year, Assessment and Measurement PhD Program) attended the NERA conference this year for the first time. At the conference he presented his research on the Generative AI Literacy Assessment Test (GLAT), discussing the test's structure and how students' AI literacy might be measured in the future as AI changes and evolves. Hunter enjoyed his conversations with various measurement professionals and alumni of the A&M program and felt that these conversations were among the most enriching experiences from the conference. He also valued the opportunity to attend other research presentations and hear new insights and perspectives which can inform his own work. He is coming away from the conference with a broadened perspective on the educational research being done and is excited for future opportunities to learn from others in our field.

Kaijie Liu (3rd-year, Assessment & Measurement Ph.D. program) attended the Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA) Annual Conference in October 2026. During the conference, Kaijie presented two research studies: Assessing Generative AI Literacy at Scale: Developing a Brief Measure for Higher Education (with J. D. Hathcoat and R. Taylor) and Beyond Exposure: Engagement Intensity and First-Year Academic Performance in a Campus-Wide Text Messaging Campaign (with P. E. Mabrey). The conference provided an excellent opportunity to share research findings and engage in meaningful conversations with colleagues and scholars from across the region. In addition to presenting, Kaijie attended a variety of sessions, workshops, and job panels that offered valuable insights into current research, emerging methodologies, and career pathways in educational research and measurement. The experience fostered new professional connections and provided inspiration for future research and collaboration.