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Reah Moore

Feb 10, 2021

Celebrating Our Black Alumni and their Impact in Classrooms and Beyond

As part of celebrating Black History Month, we recognize the academic achievements of some of our extraordinary College of Education alumni who are Black and who have made contributions to the field of education. Meet some of them. 

NC State College of Education Professor Joy Gaston Gayles

Feb 9, 2021

Pack IDEAs Faculty Spotlight: Joy Gaston Gayles, Ph.D.

In the February 2021 edition of Pack IDEAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access), a newsletter released by the NC State College of Education Change Agent Task Force, we highlighted the work of Professor and Senior Advisor for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Joy Gaston Gayles, Ph.D., in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Brenda Rios

Feb 8, 2021

Brenda Rios ‘23 Hopes to Inspire More Hispanics and People of Color to Become Educators; Scholarship Support Helps Bring Her One Step Closer

Brenda Rios ‘23 knows that elementary school teachers who are Hispanic are rare, but she plans to change the norm by inspiring other Hispanics and people of color to become educators. And she’s able to do that as the recipient of the Suzanne Montague Ridgill Memorial Scholarship. 

Jennifer Houchins

Jan 28, 2021

Why I Give: ‘I Am Extremely Grateful that Others Who Came Before Me Gave Back and I Want to Do the Same for Future Generations,’ Says Doctoral Student Jennifer Houchins ‘21PHD

As a first-generation college student and a student with a chronic medical condition, private support and scholarships have helped Jennifer Houchins ‘21PHD pursue her doctoral studies. Because of that support, she gives back to the college in hopes that future generations can have the same opportunity the NC State College of Education has provided her. 

Keith Lindsay

Jan 28, 2021

My Student Experience: Doctoral Student Keith Lindsay ‘22PHD Launches edTPA Support Class: Planning to Submission in 12 Weeks, With Help From Assistant Teaching Professor and Assistant Director of Professional Education Sarah Cannon ‘16PHD

Learning design and technology doctoral student Keith Lindsay ‘22PHD, a graduate teaching assistant in the Office of Professional Education under Sarah Cannon ‘16PHD, helped create an edTPA support course in an effort to help educators earn their teaching license. 

Kelly Fitzgerald

Jan 13, 2021

#WhyIChoseEducation: ‘Education Has Shaped My Passion to Learn. Whether it’s Reading or Writing, I Really Do Love to Learn,’ Says Kelly Fitzgerald ‘89

With a passion for mathematics, Kelly Fitzgerald ‘89 enrolled in NC State with the hope of becoming an engineer. He quickly discovered he had more of a “love for pure mathematics than the application.” After taking some education courses, he realized his passion was in the classroom and he’s been a high school math teacher for 30 years. 

Isabella Forst

Jan 6, 2021

After Saving Father’s Life with Kidney Donation, Scholarship Support Helps Senior Isabella Forst ‘21 Focus on Recovery Not Finances

The year 2020 is a year we will all never forget. For technology, engineering, and design education senior Isabella Forst ‘21, it is also the year she saved her father’s life. And with the help of scholarship support, she was able to worry less about her tuition and finances. 

Candy Beal

Dec 21, 2020

#WhyIChoseEducation: ‘I Bring Compassion, Patience and Skillful Teaching to Each of the Classes I Teach,’ Says Associate Professor of Middle Grades Social Studies Education Candy Beal, Ed.D.

As the child of an Air Force airman, Candy Beal, Ed.D., moved every three years. She attended six different schools in three different countries before graduating from high school. Her experiences in various school environments and around the world have influenced her teaching as an associate professor of middle grades education in the College of Education. 

Kirsten Hoeflaken with her family

Dec 16, 2020

Why I Give: ‘I Hope Students, Especially Immigrants and Students from Minority Populations, Get the Opportunity to Become a Teacher,’ Says University Program Associate Kirsten Hoeflaken ‘18MED

Born and raised in the Netherlands, University Program Associate Kirsten Hoeflaken ‘18MED always wanted to be a teacher. She was inspired by her fifth grade teacher and went on to teach for over 20 years before moving to the United States. She gives to the NC State College of Education as a token of gratitude for helping and supporting her as an immigrant. 

Chelsea Smith

Dec 14, 2020

My Student Experience: Doctoral Student Chelsea Smith ‘23PHD Shares the Challenges in Higher Education for Formerly Incarcerated College Students as Co-author of Recently Published Article

Chelsea Smith ‘22PHD, who is pursuing her Ph.D. in educational leadership, policy, and human development in the higher education program area of study, recently co-authored an article on the experiences of formerly incarcerated college students which was published in the Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice.