NC State College of Education Recognizes Graduate Students for 2020 Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week

April 6, 2020 Reah Moore 3-min. read

The NC State College of Education recognizes and supports the hard work and contributions of its graduate students as part of Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, April 6-10, 2020.

The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) established Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week in 1993 as a way to support and appreciate graduate and professional students. The week, celebrated during the first week of April every year, is an effort to emphasize the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States.

Here’s a look at some of the College of Education’s graduate students who are making an impact in North Carolina and beyond through scholarly research, classroom teaching and education leadership.

Teena Coats ‘16, ‘21PHD

Teena Coats ‘16, ‘21PHD came to NC State to pursue an engineering degree. But a series of conversations and interactions with a former technology education faculty member in the NC State College of Education made her rethink her career direction. Now, she’s pursuing a Ph.D. in Learning and Teaching in STEM in the program area of study in engineering and technology education, where she hopes to inspire future technology educators.

BJ Durham ‘22PHD

Doctoral student BJ Durham ’22PHD came to the NC State College of Education for the counseling and counselor education program within the Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development department. He has always wanted to help people, physically and mentally. As a former college basketball player, Durham aspires to counsel athletes.

Casey Holmes ‘21PHD

Doctoral student Casey Holmes ‘21PHD has spent the last two years as an instructor of record in the undergraduate middle grades English Language Arts and social studies education program, where she teaches the social studies methods course to seniors. Holmes, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Teaching Education and Learning Sciences (TELS) in the program area of study in social studies education, has been selected to receive the NC State Graduate Student Association (GSA) Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching.

John Howe ‘21EDD

Doctoral student John Howe ‘21EDD, who is pursuing an Ed.D. in Learning and Teaching in STEM in the program area of study in engineering and technology education, serves as a research and teaching assistant in the technology, engineering, and design education undergraduate program. He has been accepted into NC State University’s Preparing the Professoriate (PTP) program.

Felix Morton IV ‘23PHD

Doctoral student Felix Morton IV ‘23PHD has been named a 2020-2021 Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Leadership Fellow. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development in the program area of study in counseling and counselor education, works as a graduate extension assistant for NC State University Libraries and serves as co-president of the Nu Sigma Chi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota.

Nina Schoonover ‘21PHD

Doctoral student Nina Schoonover ‘21PHD has been selected to receive the NC State Graduate Student Association (GSA) Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Teaching Education and Learning Sciences (TELS) in the program area of study in literacy and English Language Arts education and is an instructor of record for ECI 306: Middle Grades Reading Across the Content Areas.

Chelsea Smith ‘22PHD

Doctoral student Chelsea Smith ‘22PHD, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development in the program area of study in higher education, was selected to participate in the Asa G. Hilliard III and Barbara A. Sizemore Research Course on African Americans and Education. She currently serves as a graduate assistant for the higher education program and her research interest is in the development of equity and diversity in STEM undergraduate majors.

Hear from some of our faculty on the value of our graduate students and how they’ve made an impact on future educators and in the College of Education.