Originally shared by UGA Today.

Amy Ellis, professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Mathematics Education program, has been recognized as a Distinguished Research Professors by UGA.

The title of Distinguished Research Professor recognizes senior faculty members who are internationally recognized for their innovative body of work and its transformational impact on the field. The Professorship is awarded to individuals working at the very top of their discipline, who are recognized as preeminent leaders in their fields of study.

Amy Ellis is an internationally recognized leader in mathematics education whose research has reshaped understanding of algebraic reasoning and learning. Across a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, Ellis has developed foundational accounts of how students generalize, reason and construct mathematical meaning, producing theoretical frameworks that are now central to research and practice in the field. Her scholarship bridges cognitive theory and classroom application, influencing how algebra is taught in K-12 and undergraduate settings worldwide.

Ellis’s work has appeared in the most selective journals in mathematics education and the learning sciences, including Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, Cognition and Instruction and Science. She has sustained continuous external funding for more than 20 years, securing nearly $10 million from federal agencies, and her research has informed national policy, curriculum design and teacher preparation by shaping how educators understand the development of algebraic thinking.

Read about the other UGA faculty honored in the 2026 Research Awards at UGA Today.