Neal Martin Kingston

Neal Martin Kingston is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Kansas. He serves as Director of the Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI) and Vice Provost for Jayhawk Global and Competency-Based Education. His work focuses on large-scale assessment, learning maps, and psychometric methods. He leads AAI, overseeing 400+ staff and 150+ temporary employees, managing projects like the Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment.

Education includes a B.A. from SUNY Stony Brook (1974) and multiple degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University: M.A. (1977), M.Ed. (1978), M.Phil. (1983), and Ph.D. (1983) in Educational Measurement.

Research emphasizes integrating assessment with learning, including formative assessment, games-based testing, and support for students with disabilities. Over 250 grants funded his work, notably the Dynamic Learning Maps project (then KU’s largest grant).

Notable awards include the University Distinguished Professor title. His advising spans 17 listed students, many now in academia or assessment roles. Key labs include the AAI, involved in projects like I-SMART and Kansas Assessment Program.