Alumni Awards
College of Education Alumni have been fearlessly leading efforts to tackle our world's grand challenges since their graduation. To recognize this work annually, the College of Education Alumni Network selects inspiring EdTerps for one of the following alumni awards.
2025 Alumni Award Applications will open in March.
Outstanding Alumni Award
This award is given to a nominee who has demonstrated excellence through leadership and innovation succeeding their graduation from the College of Education. This award is meant to recognize those who have become pillars in their respective field/area, be it through service, entrepreneurship, or academic scholarship. This includes those who have led or inspired change, who have risen to esteemed positions, or who have served their communities exceptionally.
2024 Winner | |
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| Nancy Shapiro Ph.D. '84: Dr. Shapiro started her career as a high school English teacher and served on President Jimmy Carter’s Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy before making her way to UMD. Dr. Shapiro earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction in 1984 and in 1994 became the founding executive director of the College Park Scholars (Scholars) living and learning program. In nearly three decades, with USM, Dr. Shapiro has worked with four Chancellors to promote PK-20 initiatives across the state. |
2023 Winner | |
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| Michael J. Martirano '81, M.Ed. '85, M.Ed '92 |
2022 Winner | |
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| Alana Murray '98, Ph.D.'12 |
2021 Winner | |
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| Elizabeth Stuart Whitehead '98, Ed.D.'24 |
2019 Winner | |
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| Justin Van Fleet Ph.D.'11 |
2018 Winner | |
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| David Edwards Ph.D.'14 |
Linda Pieplow Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award
Named in honor of the inaugural award recipient, Linda Pieplow '72, M.A. '78, a career teacher and dedicated alumni volunteer, this award is given to a nominee who has demonstrated continued support, involvement, and volunteerism to the College of Education. This award is meant to recognize someone who has dedicated their time, talents, and efforts to volunteering with the College in some capacity. Examples of involvement could include (but are not limited to) service on the Alumni Network Board, Board of Visitors, volunteerism for College of Education events, mentoring students, etc.
2024 Winner | |
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| Tia Washington '03: Ms. Washington has served as the professional development chair of the College of Education Alumni Network Board since 2022. During that time, Ms. Washington designed, planned and facilitated a book study on the book Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education by Alex Shervin Venet. This book study engaged over 90 alumni in an educational discussion series that connected educators from across the country and across academic areas. Professionally, Ms. Washington became known as an “equity warrior” and graciously chose to share her knowledge of adult learning theory with the greater college of education alumni community. In addition to leading this successful event, Ms. Washington shows up as an alumni volunteer leader at events such as Jump Start Your Career, where she connects with current students and can share her career path which started as a middle school social studies teacher. |
2023 Winner | |
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| Clemmie Solomon Ph.D.'96 |
2022 Winner | |
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| Tiffany Ayiku M.A.'05 |
2020 Winner | |
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| Linda Pieplow '72, M.A.'78 |
Alumni Student Impact Award
This is intended to be a lifetime achievement award, given to a nominee who has dedicated their career in service to students. This award recognizes the contributions of an alumni whose longevity in their position allowed them to have a significant, positive impact on countless students.
2024 Winners | |
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| Sharon Fries-Britt '81, Ph.D. '94: Dr. Fries-Britt was described by a nominee as “a dedicated educator, mentor, and advocate” who has “consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting the academic, personal, and professional success of students. She has fostered a sense of community and belonging over multiple generations of students within the College of Education through mentoring, providing opportunities for students to co-author manuscripts and collaborate on high-profile grant projects and most importantly, being a shoulder to rejoice or cry on. Dr. Fries-Britt currently serves as a distinguished professor for the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education |
| Barbara Gill '85, M.A. '91: Barbara Gill is a dedicated public servant and education access visionary who has dedicated nearly 40 years to serving the University of Maryland within the area of enrollment management. Barbara is widely regarded as a national leader in the world of admissions and enrollment with her years of experience, her decade-plus of service on the College Board’s board of trustees and her leadership on the creation of the Coalition for College, a college application organization focuses on broadening access to all students. Barbara Gill earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1985 and then her Master’s degree in Counseling and Student Personnel in 1991 and currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at UMD. |
2023 Winner | |
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| Dr. Amanda Knapp Ph.D. '13 |
Alumni Changemaker Award
This award is given to a nominee who has done work that has "changed the conversation" in the field of education through their work in the pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In other words, this award is meant to recognize an alumni who has done work that has served or focused on historically marginalized populations and has offered new perspectives, has broken away from traditional understandings, or has created notable change in experiences and outcomes.
2024 Winners | |
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| Barbara Hill Church '70: Barbara Hill Church is a lifelong educator and world traveler who has served as a leader and a changemaker within the U.S. and abroad by creating inclusive environments and advocating for the underserved and overlooked. Barbara has had an extensive career in education serving as a principal or assistant principal for 16 years and a special educator for 17 years, teaching in Maryland, Germany, Japan, Thailand, and Nepal before becoming the founder, director, and teacher at Grassroots Education Nepal, a non-profit organization that educates students and teachers at the Mikey Medium English School in Nepal. Barbara has also served as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and is a member of the Council for BExceptional Children and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. |
| Norka Padilla '87: Norka Padilla has served as a changemaker through her work with Montgomery County Public Schools in supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners. Norka’s work has demonstrated significant growth in students’ performance by providing on-going professional development for school teachers and leaders to ensure they were equipped to meet the needs of students. Through her current work with the MCPS International Admissions and Enrollment Office, Norka has lead in the use of an Antiracist and Trauma Responsive Approach, which is grounded in principles that guide her team to providing the best care and service to families navigating the enrollment process.
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| Lisa Smith ' 05: Lisa is known in Frederick County for her success in building a strong leadership team that creates a focused and comprehensive high school improvement plan addressing reducing chronic absenteeism, increasing student enrollment and completing Advance Placement, Dual Enrollment, and Career and Technical Education programs. As the principal of two high needs and highly diverse high schools, Lisa has built in both schools an expectation to not only providing access and opportunity for the most vulnerable students in her school, but also creating the provisions and structures in place to ensure student success in the programs. Lisa Smith earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and in Secondary Education Social Studies from the University of Maryland in 2005 and currently serves as principal of Tuscarora High School, a diverse and large high school in Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland.
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2023 Winner | |
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| Dr. Brian Burt M.A. '06 |