Congrats, May 2025 Graduates!

Teachers and school leaders. Final Four women’s basketball players. Award-winning researchers. These are just some of the nearly 390 new alumni the NC State College of Education celebrated during its Spring 2025 Graduation Ceremony on May 2 in Reynolds Coliseum.

To the Class of 2025: ‘Let’s Be the Kind of Educators Who Create Family’

The NC State College of Education recognized almost 400 graduates during a graduation ceremony on May 2.

Read the recap

Let’s Celebrate!

View photos from the NC State College of Education’s Spring 2025 Graduation Ceremony held in Reynolds Coliseum.

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Highlights
From an
Extraordinary
Celebration

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THROUGH EDUCATION

As the Class of 2025 enters the field, undergraduate student speaker Susanna Cox ’25 wants them to remember the value of building community wherever they go.

Meet Susanna

EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

Graduate student speaker Jayla Moody ’25PHD wants the Class of 2025 to know that its greatest impact will come when they go on to create space for others to thrive, grow, and learn.

Meet Jayla

Our Graduating Class
By the Numbers

39

Students Receiving Doctoral Degrees

181

Students Receiving Master’s Degrees

172

Students Receiving Bachelor’s Degrees

Meet Some of Our New Alumni

Goodnight Scholar and Applied Education Studies Major Hannah Morris Standing next to Chancellor Randy Woodson as She is Honored on field at Carter-Finley Stadium as Leader of the Pack.

LEADING THE PACK

During her time in the College of Education, Goodnight Scholar Hannah Morris ’25 was named the Leader of the Pack, an award that honors students for outstanding contributions in leadership, scholarship and service.

Meet Hannah

GIVING STUDENTS SPACE TO LEARN

N.C. Teaching Fellow Jenna Jones is a lifelong learner who wants to provide students with a space where they feel comfortable learning, too.

Meet Jenna

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS

Victor Cadilla ’25PHD plans to apply the knowledge he’s gained in the College of Education toward policymaking and policy research.

Meet Victor

Our Outstanding Dissertation Award Winners

Three recent NC State College of Education alumni were recognized for their scholarship when they were presented with Outstanding Dissertation Awards during the college’s May 2025 graduation ceremony.

Learn more about their dissertations

A photo of medals with a light red color overlay

TRANSFORMING MATH INSTRUCTION

Margaret Borden ’16, ’21MED, ’25PHD uses project-based learning to reshape the way mathematics is taught.

Meet Margaret

ADVOCATING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

N.C. Teaching Fellows Anyah Moore ’25 hopes to become a teacher who is a champion for students, especially those who struggle with their mental health.

Meet Anyah

Diego Alonso-Garcia wearing his graduation regalia in the NC State Free Expression Tunnel.

UNLOCKING STUDENTS’ POTENTIAL IN STEM

N.C. Teaching Fellow Diego Alonso-Galindo ’25 will return to Edgecombe County to teach science and use inquiry-based learning to engage with his students.

Meet Diego

AZIAHA JAMES ’25

Aziaha James ’25 uses the lessons she’s learned from others to help inspire her team and play her best.

Watch the video

LIZZY WILLIAMSON ’25MED

Growing up in Australia, Lizzy Williamson always dreamed of playing college basketball in the United States. Now, she is living out that dream while also earning her master’s degree in special education.

Watch the video

LEADING CHANGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Jairo McMican ’25PHD aims to launch transformative initiatives at a national level to improve student outcomes.

Meet Jairo

Amanda-JF-Hall standing in front of a poster

CONDUCTING AWARD-WINNING RESEARCH ON MENTORSHIP

Amanda JF Hall’s research on mentorship led her to be named the first-place winner in the education category during the 2024 Graduate Student Research Symposium.

Meet Amanda

Zeeshan Luqman and her daughter, Samiya Abdul-Lateef

CELEBRATING AN EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE TOGETHER

Zeeshan Luqman ’25MAT and her daughter, Samiya Abdul-Lateef ’25, will enjoy the unique experience of graduating from the College of Education together.

Meet Zeeshan and Samiya

TRAINING TURTLE RESCUERS

Discover how Courtnie Gregory ’25MED combined her love for turtles and training.

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Tiffany Flowers ’25MED used the experience she gained earning her master’s degree in the higher education administration program to create a new College of Education Summer Internship Readiness Program.

Meet Tiffany

FROM THE DIAMOND TO THE CLASSROOM

Taylor Ensley ’25, a starting outfielder on NC State’s softball team, is looking forward to following in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps and becoming a teacher.

Meet Taylor

Carol Davis holding her graduation cap, which is decorated with photos of family members who inspired her

CAPPING OFF AN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY

University police officer Carol Davis will honor the memory of her grandmother and other beloved relatives when she receives her master’s degree this weekend.

Meet Carol

Every student deserves at least one teacher who sees them for who they are and pushes them to be their best.

– Bethany Lee ’25

Goodnight Scholar

BECOMING A POSITIVE ROLE MODE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Kevin Clatfelter ’25 was inspired by the educators who cared about him and pushed to pursue his passions. Now, he wants to do the same for elementary school students.

Meet Kevin

NC State College of Education doctoral student Doreen Mushi

MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH LEARNING ANALYTICS

Doreen Mushi ’25PHD is investigating the use of machine-learning algorithms to track, assess and predict the academic progress of female students enrolled in computing programs in remote regions of Tanzania.

Meet Doreen