Meet Our New Faces

The NC State College of Education welcomed eight new faculty members and over 600 first-year students, transfer students and graduate students for the 2020-21 academic year. Coming from various backgrounds and communities, these new faces will help drive the college's mission to solve pressing educational problems and improve learning across the lifespan.

You can learn more about these incoming faculty and students in the pieces below.

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Chandra Alston

Chandra Alston: ‘I Hope My Students Learn to Become Justice-oriented Practitioners’

“I am excited about joining a literacy faculty that’s outward focused with work that is embedded in and supportive of North Carolina communities. I am also drawn to the land-grant mission of the university and the ways the College of Education is working to provide access to materials and opportunities to improve educational opportunities for all North Carolina citizens,” said Chandra Alston, an assistant professor of literacy, education who earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University

Meet Chandra Alston

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Michael Little

Michael Little: ‘I Was Very Impressed with NC State’s Commitment to Conduct Research to Directly Benefit the People of North Carolina’

“At NC State, we want our students to “Think and Do”. Extraordinary educators focus on that second word — showing students what they can Do with their new knowledge,” said Michael Little, an assistant professor of literacy, policy analysis, and program evaluation who earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Meet Michael Little

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Brean'A Monet Parker

Brean’A Monet Parker: ‘I Want Students to Learn the Process of Being a Critical Scholar’

“I wanted to be at an institution that has a lot of resources and is already doing transformative as well as innovative work. I kept hearing about NC State faculty members as well as amazing students who do this really interesting work, especially around social justice and multicultural counseling, and I wanted to be at a place that I could have that fostered and cultivated for myself as a faculty member,” said Brean’A Monet Parker, an assistant professor of counseling and counselor education who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Meet Brean’A Monet Parker

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Samantha Marshall

Samantha Marshall: ‘I Hope My Students Will Learn to Become Critical and Skillful Educators’

“NC State has a wonderful tradition and mission of serving the broader North Carolina community, while at the same time producing internationally impactful research. That’s a combination I was quickly drawn to,” said Samantha Marshall, an assistant professor of curriculum and developmental supervision who earned her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Meet Samantha Marshall

Amato Nocera: ‘I Believe That Learning Happens in Community’

“Teaching is a craft that takes years to master. I know from my own experience teaching that I am always learning and improving. But I think at the core of being a great teacher are the qualities of love and empathy,” said Amato Nocera, an assistant professor of educational equity and social studies who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Meet Amato Nocera

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Lam Pham

Lam Pham: ‘I Think People Learn by Doing’

“Getting an education opened doors for me that would never have been an option otherwise, and I want to do my part in making similar opportunities available for my students,” said Lam Pham, an assistant professor of educational evaluation and policy analysis who earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Meet Lam Pham

Assistant Teaching Professor Terrell Robinson, Ph.D.

Terrell Robinson: ‘All Students Can Achieve Success Given the Appropriate Tools and Support’

“Learning should be fun, practical, structured and meaningful. We must equip, engage and empower our students to greatness,” said Terrell Robinson, Ph.D., an assistant teaching professor in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences who earned his Ph.D. from Florida A&M University.

Meet Terrell Robinson

Matthew Reynolds: ‘I Believe Learning Comes from Experience’

“I hope my students learn the knowledge and skills they will need to become effective science teachers in the 21st-century classroom. I hope they become reflective and caring educators that critically analyze their teaching practice and continue to seek ways to improve,” said Matthew Reynolds, an assistant teaching professor of STEM education who earned his Ph.D. from NC State University.

Meet Matthew Reynolds

By the Numbers: Expected New Student Enrollment*

463

New Graduate Students

115

New First-year Undergraduate Students

34

New Transfer Undergraduate Students

* As of August 10

Kathryn Bailey, Master of Arts in Teaching

“I have loved learning my whole life and I can’t wait to jump back into academia. I chose education because I want to create a classroom that promotes diversity, inclusion and the love of learning.”

Meet Kathryn

Ijeoma Eke, Master of Arts in Teaching

“Education is the foundation of all other professions. I love working with children, answering their questions and helping them conquer their fears. Teaching is the only profession that affords me this opportunity.”

Meet Ijeoma

Brandi Hughes, Master of Arts in Teaching

“I believe education is key to making the world a better place. I want to help shape the new generation into being well-educated world citizens and leaders, and make my contribution to making a more inclusive and thriving environment through teaching.”

Meet Brandi

Shakinah Sampson, Master of Arts in Teaching

“I wanted students who look like me to know that there are people out there that look like them who are educators and care about their education. I want to change the mind of a student who may change the world.”

Meet Shakinah

Elliot Case, M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

“I chose the program at NC State because it had the best reputation for counseling and I wanted to go with the best. I want to help people conquer their phobias and this is an area I am learning has not been very well studied.”

Meet Elliot

Corina De La Torre, Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences

“I chose education because I have witnessed the cultivation of resilience within students and their potential along with the potential of social services.”

Meet Corina

Caranda J. Shubrick, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development

“I chose education because of the challenges Black, Indigenous and people of color have endured historically. I choose to be an advocate to ensure educational success for all.”

Meet Caranda

Heidy Labra-Franco, Mathematics Education

“I chose the NC State College of Education because not only have I met amazing teachers who have gone through the program, but the program assists teachers in their career from the beginning. They allow students to get field experience early on and build from there.”

Meet Heidy

Ashton Jones, Elementary Education

“Originally, I wanted to become a veterinarian; however, I changed my mind sophomore year and figured out that teaching was my passion. I know that NC State has a supportive community and they produce some of the greatest teachers in North Carolina.”

Meet Ashton

Chandler Parrish, Mathematics Education

“During my application process, NC State quickly became one of my top choices. Placed right in the capital of North Carolina, filled with research opportunities and serving as the home to a high-esteemed College of Education; it seemed perfect for me.”

Meet Chandler

Olivia LaRusso, Elementary Education

“Teaching young kids is such an honorable profession because you are giving them the foundation for all their future knowledge. I think enabling youth with knowledge to change the world is such an honorable job.”

Meet Olivia

Star Muehlbauer, Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies Education

“I have always had a love for school, just being there and learning every day, so I wanted to provide that experience to others, especially during middle school, the most formative years of teenagers.”

Meet Star

Demaree Persson, Elementary Education

“I chose education because I want to help people and use my communication and leadership skills. It’s exciting to me that I have the opportunity to work with kids every day, helping them to be the best students they can be.”

Meet Demaree

Kaitlyn Rosen, Elementary Education

“I love the sense of community this college has and I’m excited to be a part of this awesome family.”

Meet Kaitlyn

Benjamin Rutledge, Education Undeclared

“My mom is a teacher and she has been the biggest influence in me wanting to become a teacher and help brighten kids’ futures.”

Meet Benjamin

Peyton Applegate, Elementary Education

“I chose the NC State College of Education because I believe this school will be able to offer me a wide variety of great opportunities and resources.”

Meet Peyton

Anna Marie Barnes, Elementary Education

“I want to be able to make a great impact on kids like some of my past teachers have made on me.”

Meet Anna Marie

Ava Cottone, Elementary Education

“I chose the NC State College of Education because I felt like there is an abundance of resources available to me to help me be the best educator I can be.”

Meet Ava

Joseph Harrington, Science Education

“I chose education because I have a desire to have a career where I serve my community.”

Meet Joseph

Luis Aviles, Mathematics Education

“I want students to be able to see themselves confidently when learning something new. I chose education to reveal a limelight of positivity and encouragement for these students.”

Meet Luis

Madison Neal, Elementary Education

“I chose education because I have always wanted to inspire younger children and give children the ability to believe in themselves at a young age.”

Meet Madison

Lara Cate Wright, Mathematics Education

“I chose the College of Education because of the rankings NC State’s College of Education holds and because although NC State is a large school the College of Education is small and personalized.”

Meet Lara Cate