Dr. Chris Thomas Named 2025 NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow

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The University of Florida’s School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education (HDOSE) proudly announces that Dr. Chris Thomas, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, has been named a 2025 National Academy of Education (NAEd) and Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is one of the most competitive early-career awards in the field of education.

Dr. Thomas’s project, titled “The Nurseries of Democracy: Education for Citizenship and the First Amendment Rights of Young Students,” explores how schools navigate the protection of free speech among their youngest learners. Drawing on his background as a former school district attorney, Dr. Thomas brings a unique legal and policy perspective to this timely and critical issue. His work was initially supported by the UF Early Childhood Policy Centers Collaborative through an internal seed-funding grant.

The NAEd/Spencer Fellowship supports innovative research that advances understanding of education across disciplines. Fellows join a distinguished cohort of scholars committed to shaping the future of education through rigorous inquiry and impactful scholarship. Dr. Thomas is the fourth UF scholar to receive this honor, further underscoring the university’s national leadership in education research.

“I’m honored and thrilled to receive this fellowship. It’s incredibly meaningful to be recognized in this way based on my existing and emerging research. I’m humbled to find myself in the company of such esteemed scholars, and I’m excited to grow, contribute, and be challenged in the best possible ways.” said Dr. Thomas.

HDOSE Associate Director, Dr. Chris Curran added, “The NAEd/Spencer Fellowship recognizes the most promising junior scholars in the field. Dr. Thomas’ work is asking the big questions about education and bringing a unique legal perspective to the answers. We are proud of his accomplishment and the impact his work is having on schools and students.”

To learn more about the NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship and view the full list of 2025 fellows, visit the NAEd website.

About HDOSE
HDOSE faculty research and teach the foundations and structures of educational and community systems for people to thrive in their learning and development. We cultivate researchers, leaders, counselors, and administrators, empowering them to make evidence-based decisions that enhance human potential and educational growth. To learn more about HDOSE degree programs, click here.

Note. This HDOSE highlights story was written using generative AI-assistance.