Barbara Glenzing Dodd, Ph.D. passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 27, 2021. She was 68 years old.
Inspired by her mother’s work in psychometrics during World War II, Barbara earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology, with a specialization in quantitative methods, from The University of Texas at Austin in 1984 after receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Trinity University.
Barbara taught courses in psychometrics in the Department of Educational Psychology since becoming a lecturer in 1984, and served as the director of the Center for Applied Psychometric Research from 2009 until her retirement in 2018.
Her research focused on the application of item response theory to measurement issues in computer-based assessment, standard setting and placement decisions. Much of her research involved the development of operational procedures for computer adaptive testing for polytomously-scored items.
In addition to her many research accomplishments in the field of psychometrics, Barbara was a beloved teacher and mentor. Many of her former students remained in close contact with her over the years and have gone on to have successful careers and continue to contribute to the field of psychometrics. Barbara was also an outstanding mentor to junior faculty members in the College of Education.
Barbara was a lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology from 1984-86 before becoming a tenure-track assistant professor in1986. She taught psychometric courses in the quantitative methods program since becoming a lecturer in 1984. She served as the assistant director and the associate director for the Measurement and Evaluation Center from 1984-87 and from 1987-2000, respectively. Barbara was the director of the Center for Applied Psychometric Research from 2009-18.
During her career, Barbara was the vice president of the Measurement and Research Methodology Division (D) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) from 2010-12, and secretary of Division D and editor of D’News from 1999-2001. She was editor of the Journal of Educational Measurement from 2002-04 and served on editorial boards for other measurement journals. She also served on technical advisory committees for state departments of education and several national organizations.
Barbara will be greatly missed by the entire College of Education community.
