Australian Academic Wins US Award

Tonia Gray, Professor & Senior Researcher at the Centre for Educational Research, at Western Sydney University, was recently honoured with the Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Association of Experiential Education.

Award follows 10 years + of published research

The award signifies the value that long-term and productive research efforts provide to the field of Experiential Education (EE) and, specifically, recognises exemplary research productivity and visibility in the field of EE.

To be nominated for the award, academics need to have been involved in research for a minimum of ten years.

Tonia received her award at the American Association for Experiential Education’s annual conference held in Spokane, Washington State in November 2019. She is the first Australian to receive this annual award which commenced in 2010.

As well as her position at Western Sydney University, Tonia is the current co editor of JOEE (The Australian Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education), a regular contributor to JOEE and regular presenter at our National Outdoor Education Conference (NOEC).

“Bravo on this wonderful recognition, Tonia,” said Peter McKenna, Chair of Outdoor Education Australia. “It is well deserved. Outdoor Education Australia is thrilled for you!”

Australian win highlights Australian contribution

Being the first Australian to win this award was encouraging to other Australian academics. It showed the valuable role that Australian academics are playing in research and advancing knowledge in the area of Experiential and Outdoor Education.