Elena Aydarova, an assistant professor of social foundations in the Auburn University College of Education, was recently named as a 2020 Critics’ Book Choice Award recipient from the American Educational Studies Association. Her book, entitled Teacher Education Reform as Political Theater: Russian Policy Dramas, was published by SUNY University Press. This competitive national award recognizes outstanding books in the field of education. Past recipients of this award have become some of the most influential scholars in educational studies.
Dr. Aydarova’s book situates recent Russian reforms in the context of transnational transformations in education and captures the interconnectedness of global policy flows. She shows the blurred lines between reality and fiction in educational policymaking, demonstrating that similar processes take place in other countries around the world, including ours.
In addition to her book’s recognition, Dr. Aydarova was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2020 Council on Anthropology and Education’s Douglas Foley Early Career Award.
Congratulations, Dr. Aydarova, on these important honors and recognitions!