Transformative Work

A desire to change the educational landscape began during Dr. Alexandra Figueras-Daniel’s freshman year of undergrad.  She was drawn to teach when she was exposed to notable research in early childhood education as a student worker at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).  After earning her B.A., she…

Ashley Ellis was a shy student.  But a teacher helped her find her voice.  “When a teacher sat with me and got to know my interests, it made it easier to ask for help,” Ashley said. “Then I knew I wanted to be someone who teaches students how to advocate…

Be supportive, create safe spaces, and foster a positive environment. Those are the kinds of teaching philosophies that Alyssa McKendry plans to bring to her classroom.  Alyssa felt like a whole new world opened up to her while learning Spanish. She fell in love with the language and began contemplating…

There is a moment when things just make sense.  Take Nigel Hollis. His moment – when he realized his passion for math – was when his high school classmates started asking him homework questions instead of the teacher.  “When I started to think about what I wanted to do with…

We’re not sad at all about our students graduating—because we know they’re going to do some amazing work in the field of education. The Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE) commenced its Class of 2024 Convocation on May 15 at Jersey Mike’s Arena, celebrating the achievements of and awarding degrees…

Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE) is proud to announce that four of its graduating students—Alyssa McKendry, Alyssa Mei, Lauren Rha, and Mackenzie Heckman—earned Fulbright Awards that will send them abroad to share their passion for education. (from left to right): Alyssa McKendry, Alyssa Mei, Lauren Rha, and Mackenzie Heckman…

Dr. Alex Kenney is a Race and Social Justice in Education Research Post-Doctoral Fellow in the GSE’s Department of Educational Psychology. Dr. Kenney is a scholar of race with an exacting focus on the experiences of Black collegians at Historically and Predominantly White Institutions (HPWI). He investigates blatant and surreptitious…

Dr. Travis Dumas is a Race and Social Justice in Education Research Post-Doctoral Fellow in the GSE’s Department of Learning and Teaching. Dr. Dumas’s research interests include anti-Black racism and schooling inequity; school climate and culture; student academic outcomes and opportunities; and culturally relevant pedagogy and practices. Can you tell…

Education is the opportunity to better oneself. That’s Sayuni Dias’ take. Sayuni was three years old when she immigrated from Sri Lanka with her family to the United States. She never knew her maternal grandmother, an English teacher. “Maybe it was just in my blood,” Sayuni said. Now Sayuni teaches…

“During my two years at the GSE, I felt guided and supported, and like I really grew within the program,” said Allyson Ferry, a 2023 dance education graduate from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE). Ever since she was in grade school, Allyson knew she wanted to teach dance….

Every teacher is a civic teacher. That’s what Dr. Nicole Mirra, Associate Professor of Urban Teacher Education at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE), and her longtime colleague Dr. Antero Garcia presented at the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 6….

Rasha Abadir loves problems. Particularly, math problems. As a young girl, she was fascinated by the variety of ways to solve them. Years later, Abadir’s love of problem-solving led her to pursue a degree in mathematics, and, ultimately, a career in education. “All students can learn math,” Abadir said. “That’s…