Celebrating the Retirement of Distinguished Professor Jacquelynne Eccles

By Rachel Sampson
​May 11, 2026

For more than four decades, Distinguished Professor Jacquelynne Sue Eccles has helped shape how we understand why students learn, what motivates them, and how the environments around them influence the paths they take. Her contributions to the field have been widely recognized through numerous honors, including election to the National Academy of Education and, most recently, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Now, as she retires from the UC Irvine School of Education, we pause to reflect on a career that has left a profound and lasting mark on the fields of education, psychology, and adolescent development.
​
Widely recognized as one of the leading developmental scientists of her generation, Eccles’ work has influenced scholarship, policy, and practice across areas including motivation, school transitions, gender, identity, and adolescent development. Her contributions to expectancy-value theory have been especially transformative, providing a framework that continues to guide research and practice worldwide.

“Jacque has been one of the most productive and influential developmental and educational psychologists over the last nearly 50 years,” said Allan Wigfield, professor at the University of Maryland and longtime colleague of Eccles. “Her expectancy-value model has guided research around the world for more than four decades and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

Jacquelynne Eccles

Wigfield noted that her impact extends far beyond her own scholarship. Eccles has mentored generations of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, many of whom now hold leadership roles in universities and research institutions around the world. Through them, her influence continues to shape the field in new and lasting ways.

Her contributions continue to be recognized at the highest levels. Most recently, Eccles was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, an honor that reflects both the depth and reach of her work.

“It’s hard to overstate the impact of Jacque’s work,” said School of Education Interim Dean Julie Washington. “Her research has shaped how we think about motivation, identity, and opportunity in education, and it continues to influence both scholarship and practice in meaningful ways. We’re incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our community.”

At UC Irvine, Eccles’ presence has enriched the School of Education through both her scholarship and mentorship, leaving a lasting imprint on colleagues and students alike.

Reflecting on her time at UC Irvine, Eccles expressed deep gratitude for the community she found here.

“Being invited by Deborah Vandell to join the School of Education has become one of the highlights of my life,” she said. “Coming to UCI brought new colleagues, new students, new ideas, and so many new friends. I can now proudly claim to be a lifelong UCer—beginning at UC Berkeley, earning my Ph.D. at UCLA, and ending my career here at UC Irvine.”

As we celebrate her retirement, we thank Professor Eccles for her many contributions and celebrate the legacy she leaves behind.