ORDER OF THE CEREMONY
PRESIDING
Dr. Kimberly Griffin DEAN
PROCESSIONAL
“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dr. Gregory Hancock
PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY
WELCOME REMARKS
Dr. Kimberly Griffin DEAN
ALUMNI RECOGNITION/ 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
STUDENT ADDRESS
Alyssa Leventhal
BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN SPECIAL AND GENERAL ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
Dr. Ebony Terrell Shockley
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION
CLOSING REMARKS
Dr. Kimberly Griffin DEAN
RECESSIONAL
“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar
Please join us on the Armory Lawn for a light reception.
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.
UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
STUDENT SPEAKER
Alyssa Leventhal is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in special and general elementary education. Throughout her time at the University of Maryland, Leventhal has been actively engaged in various student organizations and extracurricular activities. She has served as a student ambassador and peer advisor for the college, as well as president of the Teacher Education Association of Maryland Students. She was also a member of the Undergraduate Provost Student Advisory Council and a research assistant in the Early Childhood Interaction program. Beyond College Park, Leventhal is actively engaged in community service initiatives through her participation in the Baltimore Hunger Project, and involvement with mentorship initiatives and tutoring programs for elementary school students. Leventhal’s approach to education prioritizes inclusivity in the classroom. Through her internship experience and work as a substitute teacher in several Title I elementary schools, she has recognized the importance of ensuring that all students, particularly those from culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse backgrounds, feel acknowledged and valued. Leventhal emphasizes the vital role that future educators play in providing equitable and enriching educational experiences for all students.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GRAND MARSHAL Dr. Lucas Butler
PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY
NARRATOR Dr. Gregory Hancock
PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY
ANNOUNCER Ms. Andrea Torres Negron 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
UNDERGRADUATE
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
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.
education.umd.edu @UMDCollegeofEducation @UMDCollegeofEd @umdcollegeofed #EdTerps #UMDgrad
KIMBERLY GRIFFIN