The President's Message What is so special about a NERA Conference? Scholarship, Fellowship, Partnership Every time I return from a NERA Conference I'm on a bit of a high for a few weeks, and the 2011 conference was no exception. It takes time for me to float back into real life, and during my return to reality I am overflowing with ideas for future research, encouraged by the supportive feedback I received, optimistic about blossoming friendships, excited about the latest information I will pass on to my students, and I want to talk to everyone about what a great conference I attended. Naturally colleagues ask, “What is so special about a NERA Conference?” But in the midst of a NERA high I can usually only clumsily blurt out, “NERA is just awesome.” I know I’m not alone in experiencing a NERA high-other NERA Conference attendees report the same feelings. Of course, it’s possible the “high” results from exhaustion due to three days in sessions, six meals in the Rocky Hill Marriott, two evenings of socializing, and returning to mountains of laundry and unfinished work. But, I think it is more than that. Other conferences might fill us with new ideas; but a NERA Conference goes far beyond just scholarship. NERA is special. At NERA’s last Board of Directors meeting Kristen Huff reported that the steering committee was proposing a new NERA motto, “Scholarship, Fellowship, Partnership.” As soon as the words came out of her mouth, the room began to buzz. The board loved it. For all of us, those three simple words captured what NERA is all about. Scholarship. Occasionally, when colleagues try to justify why they are not involved with NERA they say, “it’s ONLY a regional conference,” or “it is too supportive of graduate students.” The underlying implication is that the research presented is not rigorous. This misperception could not be further from the truth. Yes, it is a regional conference (which means it is easier to get to, less expensive to attend, and requires less time away from home); and, yes, NERA is highly supportive of graduate students (offering free membership, reduced conference rates and special programs). But these factors have nothing to do with the quality of the content of the program. The educational research presented at NERA is peer reviewed, and of high quality. Sessions are thought provoking and cover a range of contemporary issues in educational research. A quick glance at NERA's program reveals some of the biggest names in the field of educational research, representing some of the most prestigious institutions in the world! Notice how many attendees are from are outside the Northeast (e.g., Buros in Nebraska, James Madison in Virginia), and in 2011 presenters came from as far away as the University of Granada, Spain, and the University of British Columbia, Canada. Fellowship. Why would people travel so far to attend a NERA Conference? A NERA Conference offers fellowship in a way other conferences do not. We are a community. Despite different disciplines and theoretical approaches, we share a language, a set of values, and goals. We’re passionate about education, and view research as a means of improving it. NERA members share a common identity and goals; hence, we do not need to compete. One of the most frequently used words to describe a NERA conference is “supportive.” Attendees feel supported by each other. Discussants are not out to prove how smart they are, audience members are not trying to trip-up presenters. We believe that what we are all doing is important, and should be nurtured. So discussants offer feedback, but it is constructive; and audience members ask questions, but they are with the goal of enlightening. Partnership. Partnership takes fellowship a step further. Partners share interests, as well as work together. To form a partnership, one must first interact socially. And NERA is a social conference. We share all of our meals, and spend our evenings socializing together. We constantly interact with each other. Again, looking at the NERA program reveals countless research collaborations, many of which began at NERA conferences. But just as importantly, NERA often begins professional partnerships. New professionals find opportunities for career growth and development at NERA. They are recruited onto NERA's committees and soon contribute to the running of the organization. And for many graduate students, a NERA Conference is a first step into a professional world outside the cocoon of graduate school, and NERA is where future employers are met. So, now enough time has passed that I have recovered from the NERA high (and am now firmly in the October Storm doldrums), so I can answer the question, “What is so special about a NERA Conference?” It’s those three words: Scholarship, Fellowship, and Partnership. Although the main goal of NERA is to share scholarship, NERA’s incredible members also provide fellowship and partnership, making NERA a very special organization! Lynn Shelley-Sireci NERA President and Professor of Child Development, Westfield State University