MSU faculty named among world’s top researchers

Twenty-four scholars from the Michigan State University College of Education were among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in 2024, according to Stanford University.

“MSU College of Education researchers are top notch, with this list confirming what we already know — our faculty are producing high-quality research that others want to cite and that makes a difference in the fields of education, health and well-being,” said Emily Bouck, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Education. “Citing others’ work, as recognized here, is a compliment in the field — a sign of the quality of the research and its contributions.”

The designation, dubbed the “World’s Top 2%”, is created based on an analysis of citation metrics from Scopus. The metric includes total citations, citations to single-author or first-author papers and more, in a quantitative-based metric called the composite indicator, or c-score.

Spartans are named in two databases: the single-year impact (analyzing data from the 2024 calendar year) and career-long impact.

2024, in review

The single-year list pertains to citations received during calendar year 2024.

The Spartans named on the list in alphabetical order by last name are:

• Ann E. Austin, University Distinguished Professor
• Emily C. Bouck, professor and associate dean for research
• Jere E. Brophy, professor emeritus (deceased)
• Dorinda Carter Andrews, professor
• Tracey Covassin, Gwendolyn Norrell Professor of Youth Sport and Student-Athlete Well-Being
• Melanie M. Cooper, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education
• Dante Dixson, associate professor
• Peter De Costa, professor
• Panteleimon “Paddy” Ekkekakis, professor and chairperson, Department of Kinesiology
• Kenneth A. Frank, MSU Research Foundation Professor
• Daniel R. Gould, Gwendolyn Norrell Professor Emeritus
• Christine M. Greenhow, professor
• Mary M. Kennedy, professor emerita (deceased)
• Matthew J. Koehler, professor and associate dean for faculty and academic staff affairs
• Spyros Konstantopolous, professor
• Joseph Krajcik, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education and director, CREATE for STEM Institute
• Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, professor
• Kristen A. Renn, professor
• Tenko Raykov, professor
• Barbara L. Schneider, John A. Hannah University Distinguished Professor
• Riyad S. Shahjahan, professor
• Spyridoula Vazou, associate professor
• Aman Yadav, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Computing Education
• Kui Xie, formerly Red Cedar Distinguished Professor

The bulleted list above includes Spartans who were at MSU during the data collection period or who have retired from Michigan State University. The lists, including the career-long list (below), also include scholars who are living and deceased.

Career-long citations

The same Spartans are also featured on the career-long citations list, which examines citations from publication (any year) through the end of citation year 2024 and is inclusive of the data found in the single-year data set.

The list includes current Professor Christina Schwarz and several retired faculty members: University Distinguished Professor and Chairperson Emerita Deborah Feltz; University Distinguished Professor and Dean Emeritus Robert E. Floden; fixed-term Professor Henry J. Montoye (deceased); Associate Professor Emeritus John W. Powell; and Professor and Chairperson Emeritus Richard C. Prawat.

In total, 31 Spartans who were at MSU during the time of data collection or have retired from MSU are featured on the career-long list.

More on the metrics

Scholars on the “World’s Top 2%” lists are categorized in 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields.

Per the data publication in September 2025, the “selection [for the list] is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or above in the sub-field.”

The data are pulled from Scopus, or a “comprehensive abstract and citation database for impact makers.” Both the Scopus data and the Stanford University findings are published by Elsevier.

"Part of our Imagin[ED] 2030 Strategic Plan is to improve lives through research that informs local, national and global policy," said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean and MSU Research Foundation Professor of Education. "Distinctions such as the 'Worlds Top 2%' list show that our dedicated scholars are already deeply committed to this work and that our research is being seen, referenced and valued by fellow scholars. We are honored to have so many of our college faculty recognized in this way."

This story originally appeared on the College of Education website.