Penny Sparks Nixon Named 2025 Recipient of the Constance Clayton Urban Education Leadership Award

by Elisabeth Joyce
March 25
The College of Education and Human Development proudly announces Penny Sparks Nixon, superintendent of schools and chief executive officer of Universal Schools, as this year's distinguished honoree for the prestigious Constance Clayton Urban Education Leadership Award. Selected by a committee of faculty, alumni, students and community partners, this distinguished honor recognizes leaders who embody excellence, innovation and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of urban education. "Dr. Penny Sparks Nixon is an experienced servant leader, educator, and academic...

Katerina Bezhani: Building Community Through Sports Based Youth Development

by Ivy Hoa Nguyen
March 18
In the heart of West Philadelphia, Katerina Bezhani, a senior in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at Temple University, is making a profound impact through her passion for youth development and community building. Through founding KAT Academy, a social entrepreneurship initiative offering soccer, tennis and leadership programs, Bezhani has dedicated her career to ensuring accessibility and inclusion in sports-based youth development. Born in Germany to Albanian parents, Bezhani moved to the U.S. at the age of seven when her father, a biologist, received a...

Latesha Watson: Inaugural Holmes Scholar at Temple University

by Christine An
March 13
For Latesha Watson, a doctoral student and one of two inaugural Holmes Scholars at Temple University, the idea of support is paramount. Not only does she point to the support she receives through mentorship and professional development provided by the Holmes Program, but she also recognizes the value of the support she can provide to others. "It's about visibility in spaces, but also the support that faculty in a teacher prep program could give to people who want to be teachers, and how that support also trickles down in K-12 settings." When she first learned about the Holmes...

Dean Monika Williams Shealey advocates for support of teacher recruitment and retention efforts

by Ayana Jones
March 12
Monika Williams Shealey, dean of the Temple University College of Education and Human Development, advocated for state support of teacher recruitment and retention initiatives as she testified during a Pennsylvania House Education Committee information meeting. Shealey joined representatives from the Education Commission of the States, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Teach Plus Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators, and the Center for Black Educator Development in providing testimony about modifying Pennsylvania's...

Temple Professor James Earl Davis elected to the prestigious National Academy of Education

March 05
James Earl Davis, the Bernard C. Watson Endowed Chair in Urban Education at Temple, was recently elected to the National Academy of Education. The academy recognizes top education leaders and scholars in the country from a wide range of expertise in education research and policy.  Davis has published research on education pathways, gender and race, and postsecondary opportunities for more than 25 years. His research has led to a better understanding of the unique role and character of Black boys and young men in schools, including the challenges that they may face. As a...

Project ASPIRE: Special Education Through Research and Collaboration

by Christine An
February 28
The field of special education faces a critical shortage of both teachers and faculty members. In response, Project Advancing Specialized Professionals Who Integrate Research Evidence (ASPIRE), a collaborative effort between Temple University and the University of Virginia (UVA), aims to bridge this gap by training future faculty members who will, in turn, educate the next generation of special education teachers. The initiative provides PhD scholars with opportunities to engage in diverse special education research, collaborate with faculty, and contribute to evidence-based...

Olivia Kurtz's Newfound Journey to Serving her Community through Education

by Sanaa White
February 27
For Olivia Kurtz, education has always been a passion, but the path to her career wasn't always clear. Growing up in the suburbs of Long Island, New York, she was aware of the differences between her hometown and Philadelphia, but she was excited for a change and eager for a fresh start.  "I never expected that moving to Philadelphia would help with picking my major and ignite my passion for urban education," Kurtz said. "Temple was the only city school that I had applied to."  Kurtz joined Temple University in 2021 as an undecided student, unsure of what she wanted to study or...

Temple professor’s groundbreaking use of AI and virtual reality revolutionizes teacher education

by Brent Baum
February 20
Temple University's College of Education and Human Development was recently awarded the 2025 Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). Di Liu, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education and Human Development, was recognized for his revolutionary use of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) platform technology in preparing future educators to be more equipped to teach multilingual students. "Through the innovative...

A Cinderella (Shoe) Story

by Derek Coffman
February 18
Like Cinderella, a great love story should begin with "Nice shoes." That's how Christine, née Adams, EDU '01, remembers meeting Jerome, EDU '01, on her first day at Temple University in the fall of 1999. Later that afternoon, Jerome would find himself in the same class as Christine. "Each class, I'd work my way to sit closer and closer together," he said. "Then, I finally found an excuse to talk to her." After only a few dates, the pair decided to see if they could make it work, and a year and a half later, the two were married. Jerome proposed during a romantic getaway weekend...

James Earl Davis elected to National Academy of Education membership

by College of Education and Human Development Staff
February 18
Temple University's College of Education and Human Development is proud to share that James Earl Davis, professor and Bernard C. Watson Endowed Chair in Urban Education, has been elected to the National Academy of Education (NAEd).The NAEd made the announcement in January, noting that Davis is among 22 exceptional education leaders and scholars elected to membership. The academy is dedicated to advancing high-quality education research and its application in policy and practice, and consists of U.S. members and international associates elected based on outstanding scholarship...

Championing Immigrant Wellbeing: Germán A. Cadenas to Deliver Keynote at Temple University Conference

by Dawn Angelique Roberts
February 17
Temple University will host the 44th Annual School Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Conference on Friday, March 21, 2025. This year's conference, a collaborative effort with the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania, the School District of Philadelphia and CORA Services, will bring together experts, scholars and practitioners to address pressing issues in mental health and education.A Timely and Impactful KeynoteOne of the highlights of the conference is the keynote address by Germán A. Cadenas, associate professor of clinical...

Temple University Strengthens Commitment to Teacher Professional Development at TIP Orientation Reception

by Dawn Angelique Roberts
February 11
On Jan. 22, 2025, Temple University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) proudly participated in the Teachers Institute of Philadelphia's (TIP) Spring 2025 Seminar Orientation Reception, held at the University of Pennsylvania's Harrison College House Sky Lounge. This annual event marks the launch of TIP's highly regarded seminar series, bringing together educators, academic leaders and faculty members dedicated to advancing professional development for Philadelphia's teachers.Representing Temple at the event, Kristie J. Newton, associate dean of educator...

Temple University Hosts 44th Annual School Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis Conference

by Dawn Angelique Roberts
February 10
The Temple University School Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs, in collaboration with key partners such as the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania, the School District of Philadelphia, and CORA Services, invite mental health trainees and professionals to attend the 44th Annual School Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis Conference on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Temple University's Main Campus.This year's conference will bring together leading experts, scholars and...

Sonai Chaudhuri: Diversity, Mentorship, and Lifelong Learning

by Christine An
February 03
Sanghamitra (Sonai) Chaudhuri's journey into academia began when she was a chemistry major. "I found myself more captivated by solving real-world problems faced by my dormmates and peers than by observing chemical reactions in the lab," she said. Through her interactions with her peers, her true passion emerged, and she was driven to engage in solving real-world challenges. This experience set her on a dynamic career path in human resources, marketing and organizational development. Her academic curiosity about employee commitment and performance drove her to pursue a PhD in...

Alum Receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)

by Rachel Berger
January 31
When you're the first person in your family to graduate college, you never imagine you'll one day be recognized among leading scientists, receiving the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Yet, earlier this month, Melanie Pellecchia, EDU '07, '13, found herself in that very position, receiving the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.  The Philadelphia native earned her master's in applied behavior analysis and her PhD in school psychology at Temple University. She was...

Reimagining Science Teaching Through Experiential Learning

by Ivy Hoa Nguyen
January 28
For Carol Brandt, associate professor of science education in the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University, science is not just a subject confined to textbooks or laboratories—it's an integral part of everyday life, waiting to be discovered in family homes, museums, parks, gardens and even city streets."The world outside the classroom is an exciting resource," Brandt explains.Her career has been dedicated to reshaping how science is taught and learned, focusing on hands-on, experiential, community-driven and socially relevant approaches that inspire...

From Justice to Joy: Erick Smith Finds His Calling in the Classroom

by Polina Krilyk
January 27
Erick Smith has always dreamed of becoming a teacher. His path to the classroom has been anything but linear, weaving through years of life-changing experiences and a career in criminal justice and residential care. Today, he has found his way back to education through the School District of Philadelphia and the Temple University's Teacher Residency Program (TTR). Erick is now pursuing his lifelong ambition while redefining the role of an educator in urban schools. When Smith joined the autistic support classroom at Solomon Solis Cohen School as a teacher assistant, his dream...

Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams: Sanaa White’s Path to Inspiring Change in Education

by Polina Krilyk
January 24
Sanaa White's journey to becoming an educator is shaped by her unique experiences and driven by a passion for meaningful change. Growing up attending a boarding school and now navigating life as a first-generation college student, she has experienced firsthand the transformative power of education. White believes every child deserves the chance to dream, grow and succeed. Her story is one of resilience, breaking barriers and finding joy in the art of teaching—a journey as inspiring as the lessons she shares. Before attending Temple University, White was a student at...

Internship provides transformative experience for school psychologist-in-training

by Rachel Berger
January 24
From the city of Philadelphia to nearby suburbs in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Emily Duddy is embracing a wide range of experiential learning opportunities while pursuing her educational specialist degree in school psychology at Temple University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).The Harleysville native arrived at Temple's Main Campus in North Philadelphia in fall 2022, after graduating from Penn State that spring. She says she chose Temple because of the school psychology program's commitment to clinical training experiences, along with its social...

From Temple to the World: Lasse Grimmer's Vision for Education and Democracy

by Ivy Hoa Nguyen
January 02
Lasse Grimmer, EDU '21, has carved a path defined by resilience, intellectual curiosity and an enduring commitment to making a difference. A former student-athlete and international scholar in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at Temple University, Grimmer's journey showcases how education and athletics can intersect to foster personal growth and global impact. Grimmer first picked up rowing in 2010. With hard work and dedication, he quickly excelled as a competitive rower and eventually represented Germany at the Junior World Championships. After high...