FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Three University of Arkansas faculty members who study education reform have been included in the 2016 "Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings" released annually by the American Enterprise Institute.

Jay P. Greene, Robert Maranto and Patrick J. Wolf have made the list each year since it was established in 2010. In this year's ranking, Greene was 45th, Maranto 113th, and Wolf 114th. All three hold Twenty-First Century endowed chairs, Greene in education reform, Maranto in education leadership and Wolf in school choice.

Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute, compiles the list to recognize 200 university-based scholars who shape public discussions on education. He uses eight measures to rank the scholars who move their ideas from academic journals into the national conversation. The American Enterprise Institute is a Washington-based think tank.

"One small way to encourage academics to step into the fray and revisit academic norms is, I think, by doing more to recognize and value those scholars who engage in public discourse," Hess said. "As I see it, the extraordinary policy scholar excels in five areas: disciplinary scholarship, policy analysis and popular writing, convening and shepherding collaborations, providing incisive media commentary, and speaking in the public square. I'm not sure I've got everything exactly right, but I think such efforts convey real information and help to spark useful discussion."

Hess posted the list Wednesday on his blog on the Education Week website.

Greene, head of the Department of Education Reform in the College of Education and Health Professions, researches topics including the effect of cultural field trips on academic achievement, high school graduation rates and special education. He joined the department in 2005.

Maranto joined the faculty in 2008. His research focuses on charter schools and political and educational leadership. With others, Maranto has written or edited 12 books, including President Obama and Education Reform: The Personal and the Political, published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Wolf joined the faculty in 2006. His research focuses on school choice, including voucher programs. He is the author of The School Choice Journey: School Vouchers and the Empowerment of Urban Families, also published by Palgrave Macmillan.