3 Education faculty named to 2026 Broader Impact Fellows program
The Purdue University Office of Engagement named three Education faculty members and two others to the latest Broader Impact Fellows Program cohort.
The Education faculty cohort members are:
- Juliana Aguilar, clinical assistant professor and director of Applied Behavior Analysis Programs, Department of Educational Studies
- Bryan J. Duarte, assistant professor of educational leadership & policy studies, Department of Educational Studies
- Richard A. Price, assistant professor of special education, Department of Educational Studies
Led by the John Martinson Honors College’s Jason Ware, these fellows represent a diverse range of expertise, yet are all united by a commitment to purposeful scholarship and community collaboration. Their projects will explore innovative ways to connect research with the needs of individuals, organizations, and communities.
Aguilar said she wanted her involvement in the fellowship to result in a replicable statewide evaluation model that strengthens the quality, integrity, and accountability of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services in Indiana.
“I joined the Broader Impact Fellow Program because I felt like the state of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is at a pivotal moment both here at Purdue and statewide,” said Juliana Aguilar. “As a clinical assistant professor and the director of Purdue’s ABA programs, I have been committed to increasing the societal impact of ABA through high-quality education, ethical clinical practice, and community partnerships. So during this pivotal period for the field and our program, I wanted to ensure that the work I want to do aligns with Purdue’s mission for engagement and scholarship.”
Duarte said that he joined the program because it aligned with his commitment to community‑engaged scholarship.
“The fellowship has given me structured space, mentorship, and shared language to be more intentional about weaving societal impact into my research, grant writing, and public scholarship,” Duarte said. “So far, I’ve been learning how to articulate my societal impact, strengthen community‑based participatory research partnerships, and translate academic research into forms that are useful to parents, community organizations, and policymakers more clearly.”
Price wanted to continue learning how he could design research that is impactful to the people it’s designed to support, such as individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, and practitioners who support them.
“I deeply believe that research should be meaningful and benefit the community it serves,” Price said. “I see this fellowship as a way to continue my learning in designing research with communities rather than merely about them. I also want to continue to learn how I can integrate this work into my teaching as well, to dismantle this idea that learning only happens in the walls of the academy and by the faculty – rather, what does meaning-making and knowledge mean outside of the classroom and by those whose voices and experiences are often overlooked in the academy?”
All three are learning and growing toward tangible results from the fellowship.
“What I have learned so far in this fellowship is how to translate disciplinary expertise into scalable, measurable societal impact,” Aguilar said. “I am also learning new approaches to building sustainable community partnerships, designing studies that produce actionable data, and communicating impact in ways that resonate with funders, and ABA stakeholders.”
“Ultimately, I hope my involvement supports democratic governance and community voice in education policy and stronger, more competitive grant proposals that center community‑defined problems and solutions,” Duarte said.
“I have a project that I proposed as part of this fellowship that I hope to refine and implement or begin the process to implement as part of this program,” Price said. “My proposal focuses on hosting a community conversation in the greater Lafayette area that brings together individuals with disabilities, families, educators, service providers, employers, and local leaders. The goal is to generate community-driven strategies that improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.”
“We are excited to have three of our outstanding faculty members selected as Broader Impact Fellows,” said Wayne E. Wright, the College’s associate dean for research, graduate programs and faculty development. “Their efforts are well-aligned with recent calls in our field for more community engagement, where education researchers engage with, learn from, and collaborate with communities beyond the academy.”