CAEP Recognition

September 29, 2025

The Emerson J. Elliott Award for Excellence in Educator Preparation Continuous Improvement honors the legacy of Emerson J. Elliott, the first commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics and a leader in developing data-driven educational policy. The award recognizes educator preparation programs that demonstrate sustained dedication to improvement through robust quality assurance systems, evidence-based practices, and a culture of inquiry and accountability.

Awarded to

Morris College, SC
CAEPCON September 2025

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced today the recipients of three prestigious awards that highlight leadership, service, and innovation in educator preparation. These honors—the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, the Shelly M. Boardman Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service, and the Emerson J. Elliott Award for Excellence in Educator Preparation Continuous Improvement—reflect CAEP’s commitment to advancing equity and excellence in education through quality, evidence-based practices.

The Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement is awarded to 22 educator preparation providers (EPPs) that achieved accreditation with no stipulations or areas for improvement by demonstrating strong evidence and data trends. Named after the founding President of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), the award celebrates Murray’s legacy as a champion for rigorous educator preparation standards and his role in uniting the profession through the creation of CAEP.

“These providers are committed to preparing their candidates to make a positive difference in the lives of all K-12 students as soon as they enter the classroom,” said Yuhang Rong, Chair of the CAEP Board of Directors. “The Murray Leadership Recognition highlights their dedication to continuous improvement, accountability, and quality through purposeful use of evidence.”

Recipients of the 2025 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition include:

  • Anderson University, South Carolina
  • Christopher Newport University, Virginia
  • Dickinson State University, North Dakota
  • Eastern Kentucky University
  • Fort Hays State University, Kansas
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio
  • Indiana University Columbus
  • Indiana Wesleyan University
  • Lindsey Wilson College, Kentucky
  • Marietta College, Ohio
  • McNeese State University, Louisiana
  • Morris College, South Carolina
  • New Jersey City University
  • Niagara University, New York
  • Southern Adventist University, Tennessee
  • The University of Vermont
  • University of Alaska Southeast
  • University of Florida
  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • University of Louisiana at Monroe
  • University of Mount Union, Ohio
  • University of Saint Joseph, Connecticut