ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
The University of Maryland College of Education provides research- and practiceoriented programs through its three departments: Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership; Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education; and Human Development and Quantitative Methodology.
Our educational programs are accredited and approved by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the American Psychological Association. The college is ranked among the top schools of education in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. It is a premier center for interdisciplinary research and innovation engaged with vital education issues. Its graduates enter the classroom and the community ready to transform lives through inspired learning, teaching, leadership and research.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise.
Located four miles from Washington, D.C., the university is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time and is the nation’s first Do Good campus. It is driven by a diverse and proudly inclusive community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs and 400 study abroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams and energy into making the history that led to this moment.
Truth and acknowledgement are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference.
So, we acknowledge the truth that is often buried: We are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who are the ancestral stewards of this sacred land. It is their historical responsibility to advocate for the four-legged, the winged, those that crawl and those that swim. They remind us that clean air and pristine waterways are essential to all life.
This Land Acknowledgement is a reminder for each of us as two-leggeds to ensure our physical environment is in better condition than what we inherited, for the health and prosperity of future generations.
2025-26 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
ORDER OF THE CEREMONY
PRESIDING
Dr. Kimberly Griffin M.A. ’01 DEAN
PROCESSIONAL
“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dr. Ebony Terrell Shockley Ph.D. ’12
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION
WELCOME
Dr. Kimberly Griffin DEAN
ALUMNI RECOGNITION / ALUMNI NETWORK REMARKS
Dr. Elizabeth Stuart ’98, Ed.D. ’24
PRESIDENT, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Dr. Donna L. Wiseman
PROFESSOR EMERITA
STUDENT ADDRESS
Tatum Kirk
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SPECIAL EDUCATION
Ashani Jayasekera
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY: MEASUREMENT AND STATISTICS
MESSAGE TO GRADUATES
Dr. Kimberly Griffin DEAN
PRESENTATION OF DOCTORAL AND MASTER’S DEGREE CANDIDATES
Dr. Doug Lombardi
ASSOCIATE DEAN, FACULTY AFFAIRS AND GRADUATE STUDIES
PRESENTATION OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE CANDIDATES
Dr. William Liu M.A. ’95, Ph.D. ’00
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING, HIGHER EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
Dr. Laura Stapleton Ph.D. ’01
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY
Dr. Nihat Polat
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, POLICY AND LEADERSHIP
CLOSING REMARKS
Dr. Kimberly Griffin DEAN
RECESSIONAL “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Dr. Donna L. Wiseman, is a respected educator, scholar and former dean of the University of Maryland College of Education. She served as dean from 2008 to 2017, guiding the college through a transformative period of growth, innovation and renewed stability. She led a major academic and departmental reorganization and strengthened the college’s financial foundation, while overseeing significant renovations to the Benjamin Building, including upgraded classrooms and revitalized shared spaces.
She helped design the college’s original urban education program, supported efforts to reimagine the Ed.D. program and expanded the Professional Development School network to deepen partnerships between the university and local school systems. Her leadership helped elevate the college’s reputation across Maryland and nationally.
Dr. Wiseman joined the UMD faculty in 2001 after holding leadership and faculty positions at Northern Illinois University and Texas A&M University. Her scholarship has focused on teacher education, literacy, school-university partnerships and teacher professional learning. She has authored or edited numerous books and scholarly publications. She also served as president of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and chaired the Maryland Council of Education Deans during a key period of teacher preparation reform. In addition, she served the local community through leadership roles with the Prince George’s County Board of Education and College Park Academy.
Throughout her career, Dr. Wiseman has been recognized for her commitment to mentorship and developing future leaders in education. She has advised doctoral students, supported aspiring teachers and worked closely with policymakers and practitioners to strengthen the profession. She retired from the University of Maryland in January 2026.
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Tatum Kirk is a special education major, pursuing teaching licensure for students with both mild/moderate (grades 1-8) and severe disabilities (birth-grade 12). She was born and raised in Maryland to an incredible family she holds close to her heart. She is currently working at a public middle school in Montgomery County, providing support to students with severe disabilities and teaching art to students working on Alternative Learning Outcomes. After transferring from Montgomery College, Kirk has grown exponentially as a Terp, being selected as a Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of Promise. She hopes to continue her career teaching students with disabilities and fostering their independence in the classroom through unique experiences. She will continue at UMD through the INnovative Special Education Preparation and Induction to Retain Exceptional Diverse (INSPIRED) Teachers program to earn a master’s degree in special education.
Ashani Jayasekera M.A. ’22 is graduating with a doctorate in Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics, her second degree from the College of Education. She completed her master’s degree in measurement, evaluation and statistics in 2022, during which she received the College of Education’s Outstanding Master’s Student Award. Her dissertation examines how resampling methods can be used to ensure that machine learning algorithms make fair predictions across population subgroups—a critical issue as automated systems increasingly make highstakes decisions in education and beyond. She has also published several research papers on topics ranging from missing data treatments in social networks to weighting approaches to address survey nonresponse. During her time at UMD, she served as a data scientist at the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center, where she examined the potential role of data science in informing the state’s educational policy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GRAND MARSHAL Dr. Loren Jones
CHAIR, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION SENATE
NARRATOR Dr. Ebony Terrell Shockley
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION
ANNOUNCER Brittani Berry
ACADEMIC ADVISOR, OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES
This ceremony would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of many members of our community. We would like to thank the Dean’s Office, Office of Student Services, Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations and Office of Marketing and Communications, as well as our many volunteers for making this ceremony memorable for our graduates, their families, friends and guests.
COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
Kimberly Griffin, M.A. ‘01, Ph.D. DEAN
William Ming Liu M.A. ‘95, Ph.D. ‘00
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
Nihat Polat, Ph.D.
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, POLICY AND LEADERSHIP
Laura Stapleton, Ph.D. ‘01
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY
Doug Lombardi, Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE DEAN, FACULTY AFFAIRS AND GRADUATE STUDIES
Ebony Terrell Shockley, Ph.D. ‘12
ASSOCIATE DEAN, UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION
Kelly Mix, Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE DEAN, RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS
D. Hakim Scott, MBA, PMP ASSISTANT DEAN, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Kurt S. Sudbrink, Ed.D.
ASSISTANT DEAN, DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
Mary K. Taylor-Lewis SENIOR COORDINATOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Natifia Mullings, M.A.
DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
Lena Morreale Scott, M.Ed.
DIRECTOR, CIVIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE
Andrea D. Norris, M.A.
CHIEF OF STAFF
WELCOME FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD
Dear Graduates,
On behalf of the College of Education Alumni Network, we welcome you to our EdTerp alumni community. As you set out on your next adventure, take note that you are not alone because you are now a part of a growing alumni network. This network is run by alumni for alumni and aims to host engagement opportunities that provide space for professional development, community building and fun. We look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events and encourage you to stay engaged!
WE INVITE YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALUMNI NETWORK BOARD.
GIVE THE GIFT OF AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP! GET THE NEW GRAD DISCOUNT!
PHOTOGRAPHS
Professional photographers will take a picture of each student as they walk across the stage. Graduates will receive information by email on how to order copies of the photograph.
