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As news of Hurricane Maria reached the mainland, doctoral students Astrid Sambolín Morales and Molly Hamm-Rodríguez were in Colorado, but their hearts were with Puerto Rico. Sambolín Morales, a Puerto Rican, and Hamm-Rodríguez, who has lived and

  The perspectives and experiences that Travis Dominguez brought to his leadership capstone class reflect the work ethic instilled in him by his family. Both of his grandfathers own businesses, one a barber shop and the

Congratulations to our recent graduates! Thank you to everyone who joined us at Macky Auditorium in May. We are so proud of all our minors program, teacher licensure and graduate degree recipients. View and download photos here.

Paula Abitia had always wanted to attend her “dream school,” CU ���Ĵ�ý, yet as a first-generation student of color, the reality of her dream included the struggle for a sense of belonging. She credits higher education professionals with helping her get through challenging times, and now she is paying it forward as a higher education professional and MA graduate. 

How can we do this together in a nicer, kinder and more loving way? This key question guided 2019 Outstanding PhD Graduate Paty Abril-Gonzalez through her doctorate dissertation at CU ���Ĵ�ý and still guides her now in her teaching and research as an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

As a former high school teacher and advocate for community empowerment, 2019 Outstanding MA Graduate Ben Erwin realized that he had a passion for the public policies that shape the educational field. “After my time in Mississippi in advocacy, I realized I wanted to pursue a career in education policy,” Erwin said. “My belief in education as a driver of social justice and opportunity continues to drive my passion for education.”

Kyle O’Keefe, 2019 CU ���Ĵ�ý School of Education Outstanding Elementary Education Graduate, believes that learning should be fun all the time. “Fun is a great equalizer in the classroom because it engages everyone in their learning,” O’Keefe said. “Even the most stubborn student can't resist joining in!”

When Maya Angelou wrote the poem “Still I Rise,” she was speaking from her experience and validating the experiences of those who came before and after her. Her voice and sentiments are alive and well in Esmeralda Castillo-Cobian’s classroom. ith Angelou’s words still resonating in her ears, Castillo-Cobian is set to graduate from the ���Ĵ�ý with a BA in ethnic studies and her secondary teacher licensure in English education from the School of Education.

It can be hard to see the distinctions between the many lives that Valeria Praga-Rodríguez lives as an educator, mother, advocate and learner. She is also setting a positive example for daughters, students and the countless educators she works with at Denver Public Schools.

Build a Better Book intern Estelle Silk, a sophomore and student ambassador for the CU ���Ĵ�ý School of Education, learned about the importance of inclusivity in teaching and the importance of learning to teach in new ways through the program.

“I thought it was really cool because I’d never considered 3D picture books before," Silk said. "It's different from normal braille so it gets kids interested. Adults who go blind also find it really interactive.”