Joan L. Herman

Joan L. Herman is director emerita of the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) at UCLA, where she is a senior research scientist. Her research examines the effects of testing on schools, the design of assessment systems to support instructional improvement, and the validity of formative assessment practices. She has also led evaluations of school reform initiatives and is known for bridging research and practice. A former teacher and school board member, she has published extensively in research journals and is the author of Turnaround Toolkit and A Practical Guide to Alternative Assessment. Herman is past president of the California Educational Research Association and has held leadership positions in the American Educational Research Association, National Organization of Research Centers, and Knowledge Alliance. She is an elected fellow of the American Educational Research Association, serves as editor of Educational Assessment, and is a member of the National Academies’ Board on Testing and Assessment. Herman earned her MA and EdD in learning and instruction from the University of California, Los Angeles.

updated 2025