\Noteworthy\

Alumni Notes

17 various alumni books on a bookshelf
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  • At Penn, all alumni have an affiliation—a series of letters and numbers following their name to indicate their degree, school, and year of graduation. A master’s degree from Penn GSE is represented as GED and an education doctorate as GRD. A philosophy doctorate from any school at Penn is represented as GR. An undergraduate degree offered by the School of Education until 1961 is represented as ED. The two numbers following the letters represent the year in which that degree was completed.
    book icon Denotes alumni authors whose latest book is featured on the alumni bookshelf.

  • 1960s

  • James Fritts, GRD’63, is an instructor at Northeastern Illinois University.
  • Joseph Wilson, GED’66, has been a teacher, coach, lawyer, government official, and high school principal. He taught at the high school, college, and law school levels, founded a legal aid office in Pico Rivera, CA, and served for eight years on the San Jose Unified School District Board of Education, where he helped the district emerge from bankruptcy and desegregate its schools. He also served as principal of Baltimore City College, which earned a National Blue Ribbon School designation and became an International Baccalaureate school during his tenure, and Ithaca High School, which was ranked highly by U.S. News and World Report and improved its equity index.

  • 1970s

  • Judy Buxton, GED’71, D’81, spent six years teaching general science, biology, and anatomy at various levels, including at Georgia State University before returning to Penn to become a dentist. During dental school, she taught biology at Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies. Since then, she has maintained a private practice while traveling the world, often accompanied by her children.
  • Carole Karsch, ED’59, GED’78, and Samuel H. Karsch, W’56, L’59, recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Carole is now retired after a career in education technology. They reside in Boca Raton, FL.
  • Carol Parlett, GED’78, is a retired consultant who has worked with Wakefern Corp., Unisys, and Key Lime Cafe. She spends her time writing “get out the vote” letters for Vote Forward, serving on the board of the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, participating in a biweekly writers’ group, and enjoying Philadelphia’s cultural offerings.
  • Eric R. White, GED’67, GRD’75, director emeritus of the Division of Undergraduate Studies and associate dean emeritus of advising at Penn State University, published the article “Keeping the Academic in Advising: Where Academic Advising Belongs in the Collegiate Structure” in the June 2024 issue of NACADA Review: Academic Advising Praxis and Perspectives.

  • 1980s

  • Janell Carroll, GED’87, GR’89, visiting assistant professor of psychology at the University of Hartford, recently published the seventh edition of her widely used college-level textbook, Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity, with Cengage Publishers in June 2024.
  • Ann Dapice, NU’74, GR’80, authored To Thine Own Self: Values and Ethics in a Complicated World, which is forthcoming from Penguin. Her book, which stems from her research with Charles Dwyer, HOM’71, provides helpful tools and guidance on how to help students think and thrive in our changing world.
  • Linda Dolan, GED’89, retired as the assistant to the superintendent at Lebanon School District in 2006, after serving over 32 years in public education. She then served as director of the PA Parent Information Resource Center and supervised field placements and student teachers at Penn State Harrisburg. She has also been an active volunteer, serving on the Harrisburg Area Community College Foundation Board and co-chairing the Central Dauphin School District’s Panther Ram Foundation annual celebration.
  • Linda Hansell, GED’85, GR’96, co-authored Searching for Solid Ground: A Memoir in collaboration with renowned musician Reggie Harris. The memoir, published by Skinner House Books, was released in April 2024.
  • Ilsa Lottes, GR’86, emerita professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, recently published a book, Quality of Life and Human Rights Policies in the US: How Our Two Political Parties Compare, in August 2024.
  • Maggie Mulqueen, GED’78, GR’84, is a psychologist who has published numerous essays for CNN and NBC News and has written op-eds for the Chicago Tribune. Most recently, Maggie was interviewed for a piece in the Sunday New York Times business section about the cost of therapy.
  • Meryl Weiss, C’79, GED’84, previously worked at the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, administering grants in their Program for Justice, and at Learning Leaders, an educational nonprofit that trained and placed volunteer tutors in New York City public schools. She still teaches ballroom dance occasionally and is on the board of her synagogue. She writes, “I look forward to returning to Penn this spring for my 45th reunion from the College of Arts and my 40th from GSE.
  • Shelly Wepner, GED’73, GRD’80, dean emeritus and professor at Manhattanville University, recently published two articles with colleagues: “Critical Friend Mentoring: Strategic Sounding Boards for Academic Deans” in Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning and “Examining Chief Academic Officers’ Reasons for Remaining or Exiting Their Positions” in the Journal of Higher Education Management.

  • 1990s

  • Sarah Burgess-Gregorian, GED’98, works as an administrator at Boston College. She recently published her fourth book, Foundations, under her pen name T.H. Forest in October 2024. Additionally, she is featured in the Dakota and Elle Fanning-produced Hulu documentary, Mastermind, about her mother, Ann Burgess, a former Penn nursing professor, and her work with the FBI.
  • Brett Hardin, GED’96, recently became the head of school at Terra School at Serenbe, a new private school located just outside of Atlanta.
  • Jennifer Hunt, GED’97, was appointed interim dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine in January 2024.
  • Thomas A. Kecskemethy, GED’96, GRD’12, is the executive director of the American Academy of Political and Social Science and executive editor of the journal The ANNALS. Each volume is dedicated to an important topic in society or public policy.
  • Leslie Nabors Olah, GED’96, became the scientific director of Assessment for Good, a program funded by the Advanced Educational Research and Development Fund. The program focuses on developing asset-based formative assessment tools to support whole-child development for Black and Latinx learners, ages 8–13.
  • Christina Reichert, GED’96, has transitioned to a new career as a freelance Spanish language interpreter after 25 years of teaching Spanish.
  • Z. Paul Reynolds, GED’92, was appointed as the inaugural director of student life risk management at the University of Rochester. He most recently served as the director of the Waldron Campus Center at Gannon University in Erie, PA.
  • Iris Shea, GED’91, a clinical psychologist, recently completed 800 hours of training in yoga therapy, which she now incorporates into her practice. She teaches clients meditation, body, and breathwork to support recovery from trauma and long-term stress. She returned to part-time clinical work after retiring to meet the growing need for post-pandemic support.
  • William Smith, GED’91, GR’94, works as a reading partner with AmeriCorps, helping children in grades K–6 who find reading challenging to develop a love for it.
  • Jill Weller-Reilly, GED’96, GED’16, was named Fellow of the Year by Teach Plus PA. Jill is a Spanish teacher, dean of students, world languages coordinator, and senior team lead in the School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Program in the Central Bucks School District.

  • 2000s

  • Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, GR’01, a professor at the University of Georgia, released her sixth book, The Creative Ethnographer’s Notebook, via Routledge in October 2024.
  • Jana Carlisle, GED’08, founder and lead consultant at Education Support Consulting, authored Women Navigating Educational Leadership (Bloomsbury Academic, 2024), a book that draws on the insights from 37 women leaders around gender and racial bias, resilience, social justice, and leadership strategies and challenges.
  • Stacey Carlough, GED’06, joined the Office of School and Community Engagement at Penn GSE full-time this fall. She oversees efforts to support equitable and authentic teaching, learning, and well-being in Philadelphia school communities. Stacey also co-leads a new five-year initiative aimed at supporting postsecondary success for high school students in Philadelphia. She is especially proud of the interdisciplinary team’s award-winning professional wellness project, Tier Two for Teachers, which focuses on educator well-being as essential to student and school success.
  • Ted Cross, GED’09, WEV’09, was named an executive director in the Office of the President at Arizona State University in January 2023, where he leads Principled Innovation initiatives. He collaborates with university leaders to embed practices that draw on values, character, and civic and intellectual assets to drive human flourishing.
  • Cathy Dove, GRD’04, joined WittKieffer to provide leadership advisory services for higher education. Cathy and her team, composed of former college presidents, use their extensive experience to support leaders in leadership transition, team alignment, and coaching.
  • Pamela Felder-Small, GRD’05, president and founder of Black Doctorates Matter and a faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University, was awarded a three-year tenure on the Fulbright Specialist Roster in August 2024.
  • Nancy Franklin, GRD’08, is serving as board chair for Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and as a senior fellow for the Strategic Doing Institute while continuing her position as principal at Franklin Solutions.
  • Laura Freid, GRD’05,, is celebrating her seventh year as president of Maine College of Art and Design and is leading a capital campaign to establish a Center for Art and Design Learning.
  • Allyson Galloway, GED’00, a psychologist with VitalCore Health Strategies, is serving as president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association for the 2024–2025 year.
  • David Hanson, GRD’09, continues to serve as CFO/COO at the Branson School while also managing his consulting practice, Winthrop Associates. He recently opened a new wine shop in Palm Springs, CA.
  • Jim Johnsen, GRD’06, recently edited Public University Systems: Leveraging Scale in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024).
  • Jennifer M. Johnson, GED’08, was recently named the inaugural associate dean of student success in the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University.
  • Romilla Karnati, GED’00, GR’08, is senior director of early childhood development at Save the Children, US. She has received the Extraordinary Performance Award four times and the prestigious Founder Eglantyne Jebb Award for her outstanding contributions. She co-developed the evidence-based Building Brains parenting program and is a master trainer of the International Development Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) tool. She also serves on the technical working group of the global Early Childhood Development Action Network and is on the executive committee of the Thrive Coalition.
  • Stephanie McCoy, GED’04, is an educator who has supported her two sons, now ages 16 and 13, in writing and publishing their own children’s books. Andrew McCoy authored Jokes that STEM from a Child, and Stephen McCoy wrote Cooking for Fun: An Interactive Cookbook for Children.
  • Kim Morris, GED’09, a school administrator at Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, graduated with a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Joseph’s University in May 2024.
  • Natasha Murray, GRD’05, is currently serving as the chair of the board of directors of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, an organization of distinguished educators committed to supporting teachers and strengthening public education for all students.
  • Lark Rambo, GED’06, recently became the executive director of the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation in Colorado.
  • Mimi Romeo, GED’01, transitioned to teaching ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at a public school in Northeast Philadelphia after 22 years as an elementary teacher. She works primarily with students in kindergarten through second grade from around the world, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, and Ukraine.
  • Jessica Simon, GED’08, director of engagement at the nonprofit Brady: United Against Gun Violence, lives with her wife and daughter in Silver Spring, MD. Her first poetry collection, Built of All I Shape and Name (Kelsay Books, 2023), features “Even After,” a poem that was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
  • Jeanine Staples-Dixon, GRD’05, professor at Pennsylvania State University, has a forthcoming book, Extraordinary Pedagogies: An Endarkened Feminist Approach to Revolutionizing Teacher Consciousness (TC College Press), set to be released in December 2024.
  • Amber Williams, GED’07, is the director of strategic partnerships at National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), a nonprofit focused on creating high-quality assessments and learning tools. NBME’s mission supports the assessment of physicians and health professionals across education, training, and practice, including research and the development of assessment instruments.
  • Dogan Yuksel, GED’03, research fellow at the Open University in the UK, was recently listed among the most prolific authors in the field of English medium instruction (EMI) according to a recent bibliometric analysis.

  • 2010s

  • Jessica Korf Beaver, GR’13, is a senior program officer on the K–12 education team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She applies the measurement and evaluation training from Penn GSE to support investments that promote student math learning through high-quality instructional materials and aligned professional learning supports.
  • Dani Bicknell, GED’15, self-published her first book, The Restorative Rebel: Memoirs and Musings on Internalized Capitalism, in December. She writes: “A recovering workaholic, I once measured my worth by productivity alone. . . . For those feeling disillusioned by capitalism’s promises and yearning for a way to thrive on their own terms, The Restorative Rebel is an invitation to rethink success, embrace joy, and rebuild a life rooted in empathy and community.”
  • Joseph Boselovic, GED’12, earned his PhD in sociology from Johns Hopkins University in May 2024 and began his role as a postdoctoral research fellow at the William and Mary School of Education this summer. His current work focuses on how families choose schools and the enduring nature of school segregation.
  • Wendy Castillo, GR’18, assistant professor at Montclair State University, released her first book, How to QuantCrit: Applying Critical Race Theory to Quantitative Data in Education (Routledge), in October 2024.
  • Melissa Chipillini, GED’16, GED’17, became a licensed psychologist and went into private practice for herself.
  • Carlo Cinaglia, GED’16, is a PhD candidate in second language studies at Michigan State University. His dissertation study, “Investment in Studying Spanish at a US University: Linguistic Identities and Discourses about Language Learning,” was recently awarded a Research Priorities Grant from ACTFL and a Dissertation Writing Support Grant from the National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations. He will return to Penn GSE to present preliminary results of his study at the 2025 Ethnography in Education Research Forum.
  • Victoria Creamer, GRD’18, principal of Creekside Elementary School, has been selected to participate in the North Carolina Public School Forum’s Educational Policy Fellowship Program. This nationally recognized program engages leaders in promoting equitable education policy, with fellows exploring state and federal education issues to become informed contributors to critical debates shaping education in North Carolina and beyond.
  • Emily Darrow, GED’16, was selected as a fellow in the Women’s Policy Institute with the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island. The fellowship focuses on increasing the number of women leaders in Rhode Island who are actively involved in shaping public policies that support women and girls.
  • Katie Dixon, GED’18, started a private therapy practice specializing in conflict resolution, grief, and recovery from trauma. She recently joined the board of Irish Heritage Theatre.
  • Tim Dodds, GED’16, became assistant principal of student life at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA, after 13 years at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School as a teacher, administrator, and coach. He also recently got married.
  • Latoya Floyd, GED’17, is now the executive director of admissions at Fayetteville State University. In this role, she oversees the admissions process for first-time freshmen, transfer students, adult learners, military affiliates, and graduate students, ensuring a seamless and supportive experience for all prospective students.
  • Keith Ford, GED’10, is in his 21st year in education as the school counselor at Conwell Middle School in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. In May 2024, he received the prestigious Lindback Distinguished Teacher Award for excellence in promoting learning for student intellect and character development. Additionally, in his role as the point person for Temple University’s Future Scholars Program pilot, he mentors students in grades 7–12.
  • Bojing Fu, GED’16, serves the City of Philadelphia as a development officer, applying the intercultural competencies gained through Penn GSE’s ICC program to support international companies in their expansion and contribute to the growth of the regional economy.
  • Xiaoyan Fu, GED’15, transitioned to college counseling, guiding Chinese students through US admissions after five years as an international coordinator at Fudan University. Drawing on her experience at Penn GSE, which expanded her cultural awareness and solidified her passion for supporting educational needs in multicultural settings, she now focuses on fostering open-mindedness and self-discovery in her students.
  • Alan Garcia, GED’13, is the vice president of the Corporate Work Study program at Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, part of a national network of 40 Cristo Rey schools across 25 states. At Cristo Rey, students attend college preparatory classes four days a week and participate in a federally recognized work-study program one day a week throughout all four years of high school. Designed to serve families of modest economic means, Cristo Rey Brooklyn boasts a 100 percent graduation and college acceptance rate.
  • Azad Godus, GED’17, head manager of continuous medical education at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, proudly shares that his team was recently honored with the CPD Provider Excellence Award for their role in advancing healthcare through educational programs. He is also pioneering the use of virtual reality in medical education with the launch of the Very Realistic Learning initiative, aimed at creating immersive learning experiences for healthcare professionals. He is currently conducting a qualitative study to measure the impact of VR-based education on healthcare practitioners.
  • Mark Heath, GED’16, recently became the inaugural chief of staff at Milton Academy. After completing his ISTR fellowship at Milton, he served as a teacher and dorm parent. In his new role, Mark manages the leadership team and board of trustees, guiding strategic decision-making and ensuring effective organizational leadership and management.
  • Christine Hernandez, GED’10, senior director of programs at IGNITE National, is set to be sworn in as an Area 2 trustee for the Huntington Beach Union High School Board of Trustees in December.
  • Stephan Heuer, GED’13, recently became assistant head of school for teaching and learning at Frankford Friends School, where he has worked for 10 years. He was previously the school’s director of student life and taught third grade. He writes: “This new leadership opportunity feels like a natural progression, and I’m grateful for the chance to continue making a difference in a community that means so much to me.”
  • Joan Hill, GRD’12, serves as the head of school at the Lamplighter School in Dallas, TX. Additionally, Joan chairs the nominating committee for the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and is a member of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Foundation Board.
  • Kirsten Hill, GED’11, GR’16, published her first book, Ask Better Questions: A Simple Guide to Good Survey Design, which provides a step-by-step approach to creating effective surveys for both seasoned researchers and curious entrepreneurs. Kirsten is the founder of her own consulting company, working in the social impact space to make research accessible and meaningful for nonprofits, startups, and small businesses focused on measuring impact.
  • Jenny Hoving, GED’17, partnered with an occupational therapist and a social worker to form Heartwood, a nonprofit learning community dedicated to supporting individual differences in sensory processing, social-emotional regulation, and communication.
  • Christopher Jenkins, GED’18, serves as the designated point person for schools and communities during the construction, renovation, and modernization of DC Public Schools (DCPS) buildings. He oversees five school projects, managing design-build teams and facilitating School Improvement Team focus groups to build relationships with school leaders and communities. In addition to his work with DCPS, Christopher is pursuing his EdD in educational leadership and administration at George Washington University.
  • Brandi P. Jones, GRD’15,, joined Trinity University in March 2024 as the inaugural vice president for inclusive engagement. Since then, her role has evolved into vice president for people, culture, and community, which adds oversight of human resources to her portfolio. Her responsibilities include strategic planning and implementation, community relations, policy development, addressing campus climate issues, and related communications. Brandi previously served in research and leadership roles at the USC, Princeton, Occidental, and California Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on the experiences of minoritized communities in science and engineering, where her work has contributed to the creation of best practices for access, inclusion, and talent development.
  • Joi Baker Jones, GED’15, joined College Board as director of K–12 strategic account management for the state of Maryland in August 2024.
  • Yajie Kim, GED’15, serves as a contract specialist for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), where she negotiates and manages complex government contracts. Her background in intercultural communication has been instrumental in bridging communication gaps and fostering mutual understanding among diverse stakeholders, ensuring successful contract negotiations and compliance with federal regulations.
  • Michael Kokozos, GR’17, was recently published in the Journal of Youth Development, The High School Journal, and the Journal of Extension. His co-authored book, Teaching Storytelling in Classrooms and Communities: Amplifying Student Voices and Inspiring Social Change, is set to be released in 2025.
  • Jason Larocque, GED’11, associate principal at St. John’s Prep, received his PhD in school leadership from Lesley University in spring 2024. His dissertation focused on masculinity, health, and leadership in all-boys schools.
  • Valerie Lundy, GR’10, vice chancellor of digital innovation and infrastructure in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, was recently appointed to the Institute of Education Sciences Small Working Group of Experienced Education Practitioners (SWEEP) to support the What Works Clearinghouse in understanding how practitioners use and apply evidence. This appointment aligns with her commitment to advancing equity through improving technology infrastructure and data governance for California Community Colleges, the largest postsecondary system in the country.
  • Donna Sabella Monheit, GR’10, GNU’12, is a board-certified psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner and former executive director of Delaware’s Anti-Trafficking Action Council. She is the founder and served as the contributing editor for the American Journal of Nursing’s “Mental Health Matters” column and is also the co-founder and former associate editor for the Journal of Human Trafficking. She co-edited and contributed to Human Trafficking: A Global Emergency (Springer, 2023), and she wrote a chapter in the upcoming Palgrave Handbook on Modern Slavery. She has held numerous academic positions at Drexel University, Penn, the Pennsylvania College of Health Science, and University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she continues to teach in the graduate psychiatric nurse practitioner program.
  • Kate Moore, GRD’12, founder of the Global Career Center, recently authored Internships, Service Learning, and Research Abroad through NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The book highlights high-impact practices that blend traditional education abroad with hands-on professional experiences, providing students with valuable skills to enhance their careers.
  • Adam Morrow, GED’13, recently moved to Seattle and founded the Allston Group to provide nonprofit leaders affordable fundraising support options, data analytics, and team coaching. He previously served on the development staff at Harvard for more than nine years.
  • Cassidy Muzyk, GED’10, recently achieved her dream of becoming a public school teacher. After 13 years of teaching first and second grades at a charter school in Northeast Philadelphia, she was hired by the Cheltenham School District in August 2024. Cassidy now teaches fifth grade at Elkins Park School.
  • Samantha Neugebauer, GED’11, recently completed her MFA in fiction at Johns Hopkins University and is teaching at New York University in Washington, DC.
  • Adam Payne, GRD’18, assistant professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology, was recently appointed as one of three faculty members to a Provost’s Faculty Fellowship. In his new role as faculty fellow for the honors program, Adam will work directly with representatives from the schools of engineering, architecture/design, management, data and computing sciences, and sciences and humanities to help build and strengthen the honors program.
  • Hang Qin, GED’18, with his team, hosted the BetterWorld Global Youth Model United Nations Conference, one of the best Model UN conferences for K–12 students in Asia. The event brought together hundreds of young representatives from diverse countries—including China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States—this summer to engage in debates around climate change, global health security, and human rights.
  • Melissa Reynolds, GED’15, is a program officer at the Walton Family Foundation in Jersey City, NJ, and is excited to return to the Philadelphia area after nearly seven years in Washington, DC.
  • Anthony Rini, GRD’11, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Northeastern University, overseeing operations across all 14 Northeastern campuses in the US, Canada, and the UK.
  • Jon Roberts, GED’13, became middle school principal at Colegio Bolívar in Cali, Colombia, in August 2020, shortly after the pandemic began. Now in his fifth year, Jon has led the school through the challenges of virtual learning, returning to in-person classes, a generational protest, and a cyberattack. Throughout these experiences, he has gained deep insights into human behavior, learning that the key to understanding is listening and supporting others.
  • Kevin Scott, GED’16, has transitioned to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, after 14 years at the University of Pennsylvania, to establish a new emergency medicine residency program. He has also taken on the role of inaugural academic chair for the department of emergency medicine within the Geisinger College of Health Sciences.
  • Krystal Smalls, GR’15, an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, recently published her monograph, Telling Blackness: Young Liberians and the Raciosemiotics of Contemporary Black Diaspora, with Oxford University Press as part of their Language and Race series.
  • Lin Tan, GED’12, now in her second year as a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, launched a research project exploring the unique challenges faced by first-generation Chinese immigrant parents raising children in predominantly white communities.
  • Larry Thi, GED’19, LPS’19, serves as the director of operations at the Lenfest Scholars Foundation, where he supports high-achieving students from rural south-central Pennsylvania in gaining admission to and thriving at selective universities. In his role, he manages the application and selection process for incoming cohorts, administers the foundation’s technology platforms and data systems, and oversees human resources and financial management for scholarship payments, programs, and services.
  • Daphne Valcin, GED’10, recently launched her first book, Becoming the Ripple: Your Guide to Exponentially Increasing Your Professional Success and Influence. The book was the number one new release in the “decision-making” category on Amazon and a number four bestseller in the “mentoring and coaching” category.
  • Justice Walker, GEN’12, GR’19, assistant professor at University of Texas at El Paso, was recently awarded a $1.7 million National Science Foundation grant to research informal environmental learning through design, using modern biotechnology known as synthetic biology.
  • Lawrence Ward, GRD’11, was appointed the seventh president of the University of Hartford in July 2024. Previously, he served as vice president and dean of campus life at Babson College. In addition to his role as president, he will continue teaching as adjunct faculty in Penn GSE’s Exec Doc program.
  • Keisha Whaley, GED’17, was recently named co-chair of the development committee for the James Brister Society at Penn.
  • Taryn Williams, C’14, GED’15, recently started her doctoral program in teaching, learning, and educational improvement at the University of California, Irvine, where she is involved in two research projects focused on equity in teaching and learning in various schools across Orange County, CA.
  • Qianqian Zhang-Wu, GED’14, was awarded the 2024 Northeastern University Excellence in Teaching Award. She also received a $50,000 research grant from the Spencer Foundation to study the raciolinguistic experiences of Asian American women scholars.
  • Cory Zoblin, GED’13, is the founding educator for We Love Philly’s state-approved cybersecurity pre-apprenticeship program.

  • 2020s

  • Rahul Damania, GED’24, director of academic advising at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, continues his work in pediatric critical care education, including contributing to the development of a national curriculum for fellows. He has also integrated high-stakes exam preparation into undergraduate medical education, utilizing innovative technologies such as audio learning platforms and large language models to create adaptive, personalized learning experiences.
  • Pat Durkin, GED’21, accepted a position at the School District of Philadelphia, working in the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. He trains school administrators in restorative practices and oversees disciplinary hearings. He writes: “I work with students from all across the district to determine next steps that are in their best interest, helping them to learn and grow from their mistakes and work to restore harm done to their community.”
  • Leo Greenberry, GED’20, is chief of staff for Rep. Nancy Guenst (PA-152). He writes, “I have been lucky to work for leaders that do their best to work towards fairer funding in under-invested school districts. My everyday interactions with the public allow me to harness my social studies teaching skills, where I inform people about the different layers of government. Additionally, I recently founded my company Handheld History (FB, TikTok, Insta, etc.), where I sell ancient and medieval coins, so I get to talk about history all the time!”
  • Psacoya Guinn, GED’23, is the founding executive director of Trinity Theatre Group, a nonprofit that uses theatre to enhance literacy, foster social-emotional growth, and strengthen family dynamics for upper elementary students from underserved communities in New York City. In its first year, Trinity Theatre Group partnered with three schools in uptown Manhattan, with over 86 percent of students showing measurable improvements in vocabulary, story analysis, and teamwork.
  • Christopher Jaramillo, GED’20, became the first Latino to serve as school board director for the Norristown Area School District in January 2021. In December 2023, he was unanimously elected as the district’s first Latino board president. Norristown Area School District, located in Montgomery County, PA, serves a uniquely diverse student body, with about 50 percent Latino/x/e and 30 percent African American students.
  • Joseph Kemp, GED’21, is the CEO and founder of Games that Matter LLC. He launched his debut title, DISBARRED: The Card Game, on Kickstarter in November. DISBARRED is an innovative party game designed to engage and educate individuals on essential legal concepts, with a portion of the proceeds supporting law and pre-law students in need.
  • Haoyan Lin, GED’22, GED’23, is a behavioral health clinician at Beth Israel Lahey Health Beverly Outpatient Clinic, where she supports children, adolescents, and families. She integrates family systems and cognitive behavioral approaches to foster emotional growth and healing. In addition to her clinical work, she supports online courses at Wharton Online.
  • Craig McKenzie, GED’20, D’21, recently started a new role as a full-time faculty member in the department of dental anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He also serves as the director of the Center for Patients with Special Needs.
  • Ricky Paredes, GED’23, is the founder and CEO of Scolafy Sports, a company that helps student-athletes secure brand deals, navigate “name, image, and likeness” financials, and raise funds for youth sports. He also coaches high school wrestling at Wheaton High School and pro-am basketball for the Kenner League at Georgetown University.
  • Megan Yoo Schneider, GED’23, GRD’24, was recently honored as an Orange County Visionary by the LA Times and named the 2024 Patient Honoree for the University of California, Irvine Anti-Cancer Challenge for her advocacy in raising awareness and supporting cancer research as an ovarian cancer survivor.
  • Cindy Shapira, GRD’22, has been appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro as the first chairwoman of the newly established Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education. Created by the General Assembly, the board’s mission is to provide coordination, leadership, and capacity to enhance the accessibility and affordability of higher education across the state of Pennsylvania.
  • Michael Wade Smith, GRD’20, senior vice president and chief of staff at Penn State, has been appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to serve on Pennsylvania’s newly established State Board of Higher Education. This board, the first of its kind in the state, will craft a strategic plan for higher education, focusing on accessibility, affordability, and workforce alignment.
  • Klarissa Spencer, GED’20, has taken the role of program director at Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania, after 10 years with the School District of Philadelphia.
  • Marcus Wright, GED’14, GRD’23, published a children’s book, Henry’s Hoodie!, in 2023, which tells the story of a young Black boy who questions whether he can do great things without his beloved hoodie. He serves as the associate director of undergraduate studies at Penn’s Department of Sociology, a lecturer in management at the Wharton School, and he teaches success and choice in higher education at Penn GSE and cross-cultural leadership at Widener University.
  • William Zemp, GED’24, was awarded a fellowship with the Strategic Data Project through the Harvard Center for Education Policy Research. As part of this fellowship, he is working with the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, helping use data to improve student outcomes and experiences.
  • Submissions have been edited due to space constraints and magazine style guidelines.
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