Eric Hamilton

Dr. Eric Hamilton is the Jan and Robert Davidson Endowed Professor of Education and Technology at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology. He serves as faculty with a courtesy appointment in Mathematics and previously held the position of Associate Dean from 2008-2012. Dr. Hamilton directs the Asset-Based Learning Environments project, a multiyear research effort funded by the US National Science Foundation that involves learners from six countries collaborating in digital makerspace activities.

Dr. Hamilton earned his PhD in Mathematics Education from Northwestern University, an MAT in Mathematics from the University of Chicago, and a BA in Tutorial Studies with concentration in Mathematics, Theology, Psychology, and Education from the University of Chicago. His academic journey began as a mathematics teacher for grades 6-12 before progressing through faculty positions at Loyola University Chicago and the US Air Force Academy.

As a learning scientist and technologist, Dr. Hamilton's research focuses on international collaborative learning environments, identity formation in digital makerspaces, and depolarizing political discourse. His current NSF-funded research examines how learners from diverse cultural backgrounds collaborate in digital makerspaces and how this affects identity development. He is a leading figure in the international research community applying quantitative ethnography principles to educational research.

Dr. Hamilton's research portfolio demonstrates a consistent focus on collaborative learning technologies and international educational partnerships. His recent publications reveal a growing emphasis on political discourse analysis alongside his longstanding work in STEM education and digital makerspaces, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to understanding learning in complex systems.

• Inaugural Stephen D. Davis Award for Scholarly Achievement, Pepperdine University (2022)
• Anderson Gold Medal from Business-Higher Education Forum for Access 2000
• Chicago Tribune 'all-star' university professor recognition
• Math/Science Leadership award from US Department of Energy
• Best paper award at 37th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference

Dr. Hamilton has secured over $500 million in research funding throughout his career, including a $2 million NSF grant for the Asset-Based Learning Environments project and numerous other grants from NSF, the Department of Education, and private foundations. He chairs doctoral dissertations in the PhD in Global Leadership and Change program and has developed innovative approaches to STEM education that have been implemented internationally.

Dr. Hamilton leads an international research team studying identity formation in digital makerspaces across six countries. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in education technology and has resulted in significant contributions to learning sciences, including the development of quantitative ethnography methods for analyzing complex learning environments.