Meet Our New Faces

The NC State College of Education will welcome about 400 new students for the 2022-23 academic year. We’ve also had five new faculty join us in 2022. Get to know some of our new faces.

The five faculty who have joined the College of Education in 2022 are, left to right, Assistant Teaching Professor Terri Tilford, Goodnight Distinguished Professor Maria Coady, Instructor Mariam Elias, Professor Florence Martin and Assistant Teaching Professor Pooneh Lari.

Our newest faculty will help us improve educational outcomes for all learners and drive innovative solutions to educational problems.

Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Educational Equity Maria Coady: ‘I Really Can’t Wait to Get the Ball Rolling and Get Out There and Meet People in Communities and Spaces’

Meet Maria

Professor of Learning Design and Technology Florence Martin: ‘I Hope to Provide Students With the Knowledge and Skills They Need for Their Careers.

Meet Florence

Assistant Teaching Professor Terri Tilford: ‘I Hope Students Learn From Me the Joy of Learning, How to Effectively Help Others and How to Identify and Develop Their Niche in Counseling’

Meet Terri

Assistant Teaching Professor Pooneh Lari ’08EDD: ‘I Believe a Classroom, Whether In-person or Online, Is a Community, Which Requires Camaraderie, Collaboration, Communication and Grace’

Meet Pooneh

Instructor Mariam Elias ’17, ’20MED, ’24PHD: ‘I Want My Students to Always Remember to Work Hard, Accept Failure and Get Back Up and Keep Trying’

Meet Mariam

Our incoming graduate students will discover how to best advance the educational success of all and become leaders in their educational field of choice.

Shakealia Finley

I chose education because of its potential to transform the lives and communities of racially marginalized students and educators.

Meet Shakealia

Adrian Kuhlman

Education is not only a great equalizer for society, but it can also take us to new heights and wonders. To help more students reach their potential and live out their dreams, I hope to contribute to and advance the field of education.

Meet Adrian

Keith Martin

I chose the field of higher education because I want to serve others and create opportunities for meaningful learning experiences.

Meet Keith

Oscar Miranda Tapia

My mind has just been expanded, and I have college to thank for that. I have my education to thank for that. That’s why I’m in this field, and that’s why I’m in this work. I want others to feel that transformation as well.

Meet Oscar

Alicia Burnette Whitley

I love helping others learn, and I love sharing what I’ve learned. I believe that education is a right, supremely important to the public well-being, and that everyone deserves to have access to it.

Meet Alicia

Our Transformational Scholars — students from Eastern North Carolina who will receive scholarships totaling $40,000 over four years — are future teachers who will make an impact on the region they call home.

Jahzar Fields

I want to become a teacher to be able to provide the necessary and best quality of education to students who receive unequal access to top-tier education.

Meet Jahzar

Meghan Larson

I want to work in low-income communities like the one that I’m from to give those students the opportunities I didn’t have as a kid.

Meet Meghan

Grace Liu

I’ve always wanted to become a teacher, and I adore kids. After volunteering and interning with children and thinking about it, I decided that elementary education would be the best fit for me.

Meet Grace

Our Teaching Fellows — students who will receive up to $8,250 per year in forgivable loans to teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics or special education — will engage in advanced training so they can make a difference in the classroom on their first day.

Natalie Clark

I have always had thoughts of becoming a teacher for as long as I can remember. I am a natural leader and love to help others.

Meet Natalie

Charles Kellon

I wanted to become a teacher after seeing how much of an impact that teachers have on their students. I truly believe that with individualized classroom culture, teachers set the pace at which their students succeed.

Meet Charles

Alycia Morgan

I had the most amazing mathematics teacher. Experiencing her enthusiasm about the subject she taught and getting the chance to experience the reward of helping a student understand mathematics via tutoring solidified my decision to be a mathematics educator.

Meet Alycia

Our four Goodnight Scholars — students who will receive scholarships valued at $22,000 per year — will take part in comprehensive student development that will prepare them for a future in STEM education.

Kimmie Tomczak

I want to be the reason that people are excited to learn something new and a guide for our future generations to help them discover their true passions.

Meet Kimmie

Kate Hamilton

I hope that one day I can inspire others and help them learn what they want to do in life.

Meet Kate

Madison Pullium

I want to go into the classroom and push my students to be the best version of themselves and to know that I will always believe in them.

Meet Madison

Rebekah Hope Sharpe

I have always loved working with young children, and I think teaching foundational educational principles can shape a child’s entire future. I want to inspire children to love learning!

Meet Rebekah

Powering our ability to prepare extraordinary educators

Gifts to the NC State’s College of Education make it possible for the college to widen access to NC State by providing increased financial support for students who will go on to serve as extraordinary educators who strengthen the lives of children, families and communities across North Carolina and beyond.

Learn more