UMD College of Education 2024 Graduate Commencement Program

GREETINGS FROM THE DEAN

Dear Graduates:

Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone! I am immensely proud of the incredible journey you have undertaken to reach this momentous occasion.

You’ve encountered moments of triumph, faced unforeseen challenges, and experienced profound growth. Each experience has shaped you into the exceptional individuals you are today, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to make a transformative and lasting impact on schools and our society.

While today marks the end of one chapter, it also signifies the beginning of another, filled with countless opportunities and adventures that lie ahead. Embrace the future with courage, optimism, and a steadfast commitment to advance equity and justice in the communities you serve. As you step into the world as graduates of the University of Maryland College of Education, know that you have the support and encouragement of the entire EdTerps community.

Once again, congratulations on this remarkable achievement!

Go EdTerps!

KIMBERLY GRIFFIN

ORDER OF THE CEREMONY

PRESIDING

Dr. Kimberly Griffin

DEAN

PROCESSIONAL

“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dr. Ebony Terrell Shockley

ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION

WELCOME REMARKS

Dr. Kimberly Griffin

DEAN

ALUMNI NETWORK REMARKS

Barbara Friedlander ’85, M.A. ’90

CHAIR, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Michelle Asha Cooper Ph.D. ’06

VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LUMINA FOUNDATION

DOCTORAL STUDENT ADDRESS

Yi Feng

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY: MEASUREMENT AND STATISTICS

MASTER’S STUDENT ADDRESS

Madeline Martinucci

MASTER OF EDUCATION, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES

PRESENTATION OF DOCTORAL AND MASTER’S CANDIDATES

Dr. Doug Lombardi

PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FACULTY AFFAIRS

CLOSING REMARKS

Dr. Kimberly Griffin

DEAN

RECESSIONAL

“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Michelle Asha Cooper Ph.D. ’06 is vice president for public policy at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. She also serves as executive director of the foundation’s Washington, D.C. office.

Dr. Cooper is a former deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education who previously served as president and CEO of the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) for more than 12 years. She has held leadership positions with the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, the American Association of Colleges & Universities, The Council of Independent Colleges, and King’s College.

She knows firsthand the transformative power of education and the vital importance of advancing racial and economic equity, and making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. She is among the nation’s most influential voices in championing access and success for all students in education.

Dr. Cooper is a native of Charleston, S.C., and lives in Washington with her family. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston, a master’s from Cornell University, and her doctorate from the University of Maryland.

STUDENT SPEAKERS

Yi Feng Ph.D. ’23 is an assistant professor in quantitative psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. A first-generation college student, Feng graduated from the University of Maryland with a doctorate degree in quantitative methodology: measurement and statistics. During her time at Maryland, she participated in several student organizations, serving as the president of the Graduate Student Organization UPASS. In this role, she organized social events, peer mentorship programs, and professional development workshops for fellow QMMS peers.

Feng’s time at Maryland taught her how transformative education can mark profound change in people’s lives. Despite working thousands of miles away from Maryland, Feng continues to carry the spirit of the College of Education everywhere she goes as she strives to see the potential in every student and to help them learn, grow, and succeed.

Madeline Martinucci is graduating with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in secondary social studies from the Integrated Masters and Teacher Certification Program. A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Martinucci graduated last May with a bachelor’s degree in history and minors in secondary education and Spanish. After graduation, Martinnucci will begin her career as a social studies teacher in Maryland.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

GRAND MARSHAL Dr. Lucas Butler

PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY

NARRATOR Dr. Ebony Terrell Shockley

ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION

ANNOUNCER Brittani Berry, MBA

ACADEMIC ADVISOR, OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES

This ceremony would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of many members of our community. We would like to thank the Dean’s Office, Office of Student Services, Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations and Office of Marketing and Communications, as well as our many volunteers for making this ceremony memorable for our graduates, their families, friends and guests.

COLLEGE LEADERSHIP

Kimberly Griffin, Ph.D. DEAN

William Ming Liu, Ph.D.

CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

Nihat Polat, Ph.D.

CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, POLICY AND LEADERSHIP

Laura Stapleton, Ph.D.

CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY

Doug Lombardi, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE DEAN, FACULTY AFFAIRS

Ebony Terrell Shockley, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE DEAN, UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION

Ana Taboada Barber, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE DEAN, RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

D. Hakim Scott, MBA, PMP

ASSISTANT DEAN, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Kurt S. Sudbrink, MPA ASSISTANT DEAN, DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS

Natifia Mullings, M.A.

DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Andrea D. Norris, M.A.

CHIEF OF STAFF

Lena Morreale Scott, M.Ed.

DIRECTOR, CIVIC EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE

Mary K. Taylor-Lewis, M.A. DIVERSITY OFFICER

WELCOME FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD

Dear Graduates,

On behalf of the College of Education Alumni Network, we welcome you to our EdTerp alumni community. As you set out on your next adventure, take note that you are not alone because you are now a part of a growing alumni network. This network is run by alumni for alumni and aims to host engagement opportunities that provide space for professional development, community building, and fun. We look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events and encourage you to stay engaged!

Best,

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD

WE INVITE YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD.

GIVE THE GIFT OF AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP!

PHOTOGRAPHS

Professional photographers will take a picture of each student as they walk across the stage. Graduates will receive information by email on how to order copies of the photograph.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The University of Maryland College of Education provides research- and practice-oriented programs through its three departments: Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership; Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education; and Human Development and Quantitative Methodology.

Our educational programs are accredited and approved by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the American Psychological Association. The College is ranked among the top schools of education in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. It is a premier center for interdisciplinary research and innovation engaged with vital education issues. Its graduates enter the classroom and the community ready to transform lives through inspired learning, teaching, leadership, and research.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. Located four miles from Washington, D.C., the university is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time and is the nation’s first Do Good campus. It is driven by a diverse and proudly inclusive community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs and 400 study abroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams and energy into making the history that led to this moment.

Truth and acknowledgement are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference.

So, we acknowledge the truth that is often buried: We are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who are the ancestral stewards of this sacred land. It is their historical responsibility to advocate for the four-legged, the winged, those that crawl, and those that swim. They remind us that clean air and pristine waterways are essential to all life.

This Land Acknowledgement is a reminder for each of us as two-leggeds to ensure our physical environment is in better condition than what we inherited, for the health and prosperity of future generations.