Neal Kingston

Neal Kingston, Ph.D., is a University Distinguished Professor in the department of Educational Psychology at the University of Kansas, in which he also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies and Director of the Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI). His research focuses on large-scale assessment, with particular emphasis on how it can better support student learning through the use of learning maps and diagnostic classification models. Current interests include games-based assessment, personalizing assessments to improve student engagement, and the creation of more agile test development approaches. Dr. Kingston has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator for over 250 research grants. Of particular note was the Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment grant from the US Department of Education, which was at that time was the largest grant in KU history and which currently serves 23 state departments of education. Other important testing projects include the Kansas Assessment Program, Project Lead The Way, and Adaptive Reading Motivation Measures.

Dr. Kingston is known internationally for his work on large-scale assessment, formative assessment, and learning maps. He has served as a consultant or advisor for organizations such as the AT&T, College Board, Department of Defense Advisory Committee on Military Personnel Testing, Edvantia, General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Kaplan, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Merrill Lynch, National Council on Disability, Qeyas (Saudi Arabian National Center for Assessment in Higher Education), the state of New Hampshire, the state of Utah, the U.S. Department of Education, and Western Governors University.

As Director of AAI, Dr. Kingston is responsible for the support of multiple research centers with about 400 year-round staff and about 150 temporary employees.

Education

Ph.D. Educational Measurement, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1983

M.Phil. Educational Measurement, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1983

M.Ed. Educational Measurement, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1978

M.A. Psychology in Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1977

B.A. Liberal Studies (concentrations in Biology & Education), State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 1974