Jill Cook (’88 B.M.Ed., ’91 M.Ed.), a two-time Carolina alumna and executive director of the American School Counselor Association, delivered the UNC School of Education’s graduation address on Saturday, May 11, in Carmichael Arena. Watch her address at ed.unc.edu/graduation2024 .
As educators and as people who care deeply about the success of our young people, we know that their learning depends on much more than what happens inside the classroom. Their academic, social, emotional, and post-secondary successes are tied to their well-being and the well-being of their families and communities. At the UNC School of Education, through exceptional educator preparation and wide-ranging, field-leading research, we empower education professionals to educate the whole child which helps to ensure learners and communities thrive.
On the cover of this edition of Carolina Education, I am thrilled for you to see that Jill Cook (’88 B.M.Ed., ’91 M.Ed.), executive director of the American School Counselor Association, addressed the School’s graduates this year. School counselors are at the top of the list of education professionals who educate the whole child and work to ensure the well-being of students and communities. Jill tops the list of school counseling leaders. I am proud to say that Jill is our alumna, a Tar Heel. Though, I am not surprised. Our students arrive on campus with a desire to better our world through education, and they leave Chapel Hill prepared to lead that progress.
Inside this Carolina Education, you will see how we live out one of our pillars — “Educating the Whole” — through the work of one of our Human Development and Family Science graduates and through a school counseling student dedicated to serving students in rural North Carolina. You will also read about how the School is working to prepare future leaders through the undergraduate Human and Organizational Leadership Development program and soon through our new, fully online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program. Great efforts that create impact in classrooms, schools, and well beyond are happening at your UNC School of Education.
In closing, this is a bittersweet message for me as it is my last to you in the pages of Carolina Education. On July 1, I will become provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Since fall 2019 when we launched this publication, I have been so lucky to bring you greetings from Chapel Hill and deliver good news from Peabody Hall. Leading this School and working alongside the community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, partners, and more for the last eight years has been a profound honor and privilege and a sheer pleasure. I am humbled to have been given this opportunity. I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished. There is always more work to be done, and this School will continue to do that work for the greater good — and I will cheer on that work from wherever I am.
Until our paths cross again, please always remember: Together, we Propel the World.
All my best, Fouad
Abd-El-Khalick Dean and Alumni Distinguished ProfessorJill Hamm, William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education, became interim dean of the UNC School of Education effective May 15.
Hamm has been on the faculty since 1999 and has served as the School’s associate dean for research and faculty development since 2017.
Hamm assumed leadership duties ahead of the departure of Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, who becomes provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on July 1.
For the fifth consecutive year, the UNC School of Education has been included in the Top 25 among the nation’s schools of education in U.S. News & World Report rankings. In addition to ranking No. 25 overall, the School ranked No. 16 among public universities.
“Our sustained ranking serves as another affirmation of our community’s deep commitment to education,” said Dean Fouad Abd-El-Khalick. “This ranking reflects an incredible faculty whose members excel as both innovative researchers and passionate educators. It also speaks to our exceptional students and alumni who bring the highest level of dedication and expertise to bear each day on behalf of schools, educators, and learners.”
With approval from the UNC System, the School launched the University’s first fully online doctor of education — the Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program — which will provide working professionals with knowledge, skills, and experiences to take a human-centered approach to leadership, delivering upon their organization’s goals and mission. The application opened March 20. The final deadline to join the program’s first cohort of students is July 3. Classes begin in August.
The program will utilize a blend of interactive online classes, self-paced asynchronous lessons, and an in-person immersion experience on the UNC campus. Designed to be completed over three years, the program culminates with a capstone project tasking students with identifying a complex or pervasive challenge faced by their organization; they will then undertake comprehensive research and implementation efforts to create effective resolutions.
Scan the QR code to learn more.
In May 2024, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that the School received accreditation for its educator preparation programs at both initial and advanced levels. The accreditation comes after a self-study conducted by School programs that include the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, UNC-BEST, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education for Experienced Teachers, Master of School Administration, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, and after a CAEP virtual site visit in December 2023. The School earned accreditation for the next seven years, with no areas for improvement needed.
In partnership with the N.C. Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) and Carolina’s University Career Services (UCS), students from the UNC School of Education’s Human and Organizational Leadership Development (HOLD) program traveled to Raleigh for a Career Trek on March 6, networking and engaging with professionals from more than 10 state agencies.
Career Treks, a UCS initiative, provides students with invaluable opportunities to meet with professionals and alumni outside of the University. Each student engaged in conversations about the agency’s operations, learned about career pathways, and learned how to apply the knowledge and skills gained from HOLD courses to pursue internships and post-graduate roles effectively.
“A key feature of our program is bridging classroom learning with real-world applications, often through guest speakers, leadership panels, and case studies,” said Jemilia Davis, Ph.D., HOLD program director. “Our Career Treks elevate this commitment. There was a unique buzz in the room where students were getting a new sense of confidence that HOLD was preparing them for so many different careers.”
The event was hosted by Ed2NC, an effort between OSHR and the N.C. Office of Strategic Partnerships committed to bringing together leaders in state
government and higher education partners to create a pipeline of talent by connecting students with career opportunities.
The event’s moderator, Andrea Bennett, OSHR talent acquisition consultant and coordinator for Ed2NC, said she anticipates that the event ignites a spark within the students who attended, helping them discover meaningful connections that may pave the way for future job opportunities in state government, all geared toward the betterment of North Carolina.
“Each of us play a crucial role in contributing to improving the lives of North Carolinians in various ways,” Bennett said during the event’s opening remarks. “Together, we form a collective force striving to benefit our state.”
This year’s Career Trek marks the third time HOLD has partnered with University Career Services to provide students with invaluable career exploration and recruitment prospects.
“As a HOLD major, it’s relevant when we look at careers in the state and working with people,” said Roxanne Dudley, a HOLD sophomore. “There are all of these agencies that are relevant to HOLD, and we can fit ourselves within them and apply what we learn to jobs in different state departments.”
LaChelle Allen has a desire for all students to succeed, both in the classroom and beyond.
Born and raised in rural Caswell County, located just north of Chapel Hill and Orange County, Allen has a deep commitment to serve rural communities — a commitment that has shaped her educational and professional journey.
“Growing up in a rural community, I believed that pursuing a career as a school counselor would allow me to give back effectively,” Allen said. “The motivation behind what I do was to use my experiences to benefit others in rural communities.”
In May 2023, Allen enrolled in the School’s Master of Education in School Counseling program as part of the first cohort of Helping Heels — Expanding Access to Care and Improving Opportunities for Rural Schools in the Tar Heel State — program.
With faculty member Dana Griffin, Ph.D., serving as principal investigator, the School received a $2.27 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the 5-year Helping Heels program which places school counselors-in-training in rural high-needs schools in Person and Granville Counties. During the 2023-24 academic year, Allen was one of five Helping Heels students serving students in those counties.
In addition to training the next generation of effective school counselors, the Helping Heels program works to bolster K-12 students’ academic success and support
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“Counselors serve as advocates for students, giving a voice to their needs and ensuring access to resources, especially mental health services.”
LaChelle Allen (‘24 M.Ed.)
their development by addressing academic struggles and mental health needs. To Allen, Helping Heels serves as a way to understand student experiences through continuous mental health and well-being advocacy at a level that resonates with students.
“I have gained an appreciation for the role school counselors play and the value they provide students,” said Allen, who worked as a teacher and social worker before pursuing a career in school counseling. “Counselors serve as advocates for students, giving a voice to their needs and ensuring access to resources, especially mental health services.”
Through Helping Heels, Allen said she sees an opportunity to fulfill her passion for closing equity gaps and expanding student access to essential resources, including mental
health reosources — setting her on the path to uplift the communities in which schools are located.
“I see myself as a valuable resource,” Allen said. “The importance of mental health is at the forefront, and being in schools enables me to address and break stigmas surrounding mental health.”
After graduating from Winston Salem State University in 2019, Allen soon discovered a passion for working with young learners.
She spent nearly two years teaching middle schoolers in her native Caswell County and later served as an elementary teacher in nearby Person County. To Allen, teaching enriched her understanding of the educational landscape and solidified her commitment to supporting students.
“As a teacher, I had to understand my students beyond academics, getting to know them socially and emotionally,” Allen said. “I needed insight into their home lives and backgrounds to teach them effectively and make the content relatable. Building relationships is fundamental to teaching, and students want to know you care and have their best interests in mind.”
Before school counseling, Allen was also a social worker, supporting children in foster care. Witnessing the experiences of youth during that time, she saw the need for understanding the social-emotional aspects that nurture their well-being.
Wanting to advance her commitment to young people and build upon her work as an educator and social worker, Allen joined the School Counseling program with a goal of fostering equity and whole-child support in schools.
“I understand challenges some students face,” Allen said. “This enables me to better support my students. Making connections beyond the classroom gives me a more holistic view of each student. That informed my teaching methods and helped me see them as more than just learners.”
Carolina’s 14-month, cohort-based School Counseling program, which also includes a yearlong internship, provides its students with deep preparation for success as a school counselor.
In January 2024, Allen joined Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, educators, fellow school counselors-in-traning, and more in Charlotte for a roundtable discussion focused on gun violence and the mental health needs of K-12 students.
Recognizing the impact of a school counselor, Allen strives to create an environment where students feel heard, valued, and empowered.
“I’m dedicated to being open and honest with students, making an effort to understand and connect with them on their level,” Allen said. “Parents trust us with their children, and as students reveal their experiences, our role becomes finding effective ways to support them.”
Allen said her school counseling journey has been bolstered by the Helping Heels program, enabling her to work in rural communities and provide equitable access to counseling and mental-health resources.
“I’ve gained so much knowledge about advocacy and delved into issues of equity and equality,” Allen said. She said she hopes to leverage this experience to better serve students in rural areas throughout her career.
In the 2024-25 school year, Allen will return to her native Caswell County to serve as a school counselor.
At the UNC School of Education, we recognize that learning is dependent on the well-being of children, their families, and their communities. With a focus on underprivileged and underserved communities, we collaborate with educators, parents, schools, communities, and more — in partnership with other schools and units at Carolina — to empower learners and communities to thrive.
During her time in the School’s Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) program — which provides students a community-focused and evidence-based foundation and helps them to unlock opportunities for careers in the helping professions — Jacklyn Boheler (‘19 B.A.Ed.) volunteered for programs and interned at organizations that advocate for disability allyship and accessible services for neurodiverse groups. One of those programs, Best Buddies, paired her and her UNC peers with members of the Chapel Hill community who have intellectual and developmental disabilities to facilitate lasting connections.
While she gained key skills during these experiences, she also saw service gaps and disparities in adult support systems, especially in the transition after graduation.
As a barista at a local coffee shop, she saw how the shop provided her and patrons with a sense of belonging and a diverse social circle.
At the intersection of her volunteer work and work at the coffee shop, Boheler envisioned an opportunity for organic community building. Coffee emerged as a powerful catalyst. In 2018, Boheler partnered with Best Buddies to establish B3 Coffee, a nonprofit that provides
social and vocational opportunities for people of all abilities by organizing coffee pop-ups at conferences, local programs, on-campus events, and more.
“At B3, our priority is creating a strong sense of community and belonging,” Boheler said. “We strive to be responsive to what our members want and need, so they feel empowered to shape the organization into something meaningful for them. The ‘glue’ that bonds us is the collaborative spirit of co-creating an inclusive space together. What truly sets B3 apart is our commitment to being led by the individuals we serve.”
For Boheler, who now serves as the executive director of B3 Coffee, breaking down stigma begins with the representation of disabled individuals in dignified roles, providing opportunities for genuine interaction, and the development of authentic relationships.
“My time witnessing experiences of the intellectual and developmental disabilities community first-hand taught me the importance of seeing disability as a culture requiring a stance of curiosity and allyship,” she said.
Read more about Boheler’s HDFS experience and B3 Coffee at ed.unc.edu/b3 .
HDFS alumna Jacklyn Boheler, far right, with members of B3 Coffee at a coffee pop-up in Chapel Hill.The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Campus Box 3500, Peabody Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500
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