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#WhyIChoseEducation: Gary Brown ’05MED on Investing in Future Generations

Why I Chose Education

Marielle Myers ’07MED, ’14PHD hold her book while standing with a group of elementary school students inside a classroom.

May 12, 2026

#WhyIChoseEducation: Marielle Myers ’07MED, ’14PHD Inspires Love of Math through Teaching, Children’s Books

Marielle Myers ’07MED, ’14PHD has always found joy in education. Today, she is a professor of mathematics education at Kennesaw State University’s Clarice C. and Leland H. Bagwell College of Education, the incoming president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators and the author of several children’s books designed to teach young learners about math.
Keith Parker

Apr 23, 2026

#WhyIChoseEducation: Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools Superintendent Keith Parker ‘16MSA On Preparing Opportunities for Students

Keith Parker ‘16MSA, the superintendent of Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, began his career as a social studies teacher before deciding he wanted to move into school and district leadership to make education more relevant for students and better prepare them for their future careers.
A headshot of angela gay-audre.

Mar 10, 2026

Why I Chose Education: angela gay-audre ’23PHD on Using What She Has Learned as Director of the African American Cultural Center

The director of the NC State African American Cultural Center, angela gay-audre ’23PHD says she chose a career in a higher education environment because she wanted to be at the center of knowledge creation and feels called to the work that guides how people understand, challenge and transform the world around them.
Keyana Scales stands with a student in a lobby at Howard University

Feb 10, 2026

#WhyIChoseEducation: Howard University Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success Keyana Scales ‘08MED on Serving as a Lighthouse for Students

Keyana Scales ‘08MED, Howard University’s senior vice president for enrollment management and student success, describes her role as similar to that of a lighthouse, providing both a safe harbor for students and illuminating future possibilities.

Jan 9, 2026

Why I Chose Education: Karen Tharrington ’17 PHD on How Earning a Ph.D. Helped Her Fulfill Her Dreams of Living Abroad

Karen Tharrington '17 PHD spent over a decade teaching in public schools and another working with pre-service teachers at NC State. However, while she had a passion for education, she also had a dream of one day moving abroad.

Dec 10, 2025

Why I Chose Education: N.C. Department of Adult Corrections Assistant Superintendent of Education Kebbler Williams ’04MSA

Kebbler Williams ’04MSA knew that she wanted to be an educator from the time she was four years old. After a long career in K-12 public schools, Williams recently took on a new role as assistant superintendent of education within the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections.

Nov 10, 2025

#WhyIChoseEducation: Rob Moore ’18PHD on a CAREER Milestone

Rob Moore ’18PHD has a vivid memory of going to the movies after taking his Introduction to Statistics final exam in his doctoral program, hoping to distract himself from what he was sure was a failing grade. However, when the credits rolled, he checked his phone to find that not only had he passed the exam, but he also aced the class. This moment, he says, filled him with confidence that carried him through earning his Ph.D. and his subsequent career in academia.

Will Wade

Oct 24, 2025

Why I Chose Education: NC State Men’s Head Basketball Coach Will Wade

Before coaching his first official game as head coach of the NC State men’s basketball team, Will Wade sat down with the NC State College of Education to share why…

Sep 18, 2025

#WhyIChoseEducation: Rachel Fenton ’23 on Using Her Skills as an Educator and Former Ms. Wuf Performer

For two years during her time as a College of Education student, Rachel Fenton had another important role as the NC State mascot Ms. Wuf. She shares how she has used what she learned in the College of Education and as a mascot in the classroom and in her new roles as NC Courage mascot coordinator and NC State mascot coach.

Aug 15, 2025

#WhyIChoseEducation: Gary Brown ’05MED on Investing in Future Generations

After earning his master's in higher education administration at the NC State College of Education, Gary Brown '05MED would go on to serve in a number of leadership roles in the UNC System, most recently as the vice chancellor and chief of staff at North Carolina Central University.