The College of Education Alumni Network will honor 11 exceptional alumni on Wednesday, September 23 at 6 p.m. at the 2026 Alumni Awards Reception at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center.
The College of Education Alumni Awards recognize alumni for their work to advance equity, serve students and transform education for good. The awards span six categories, including two new categories debuting this year. The new Young Alumni Award and Alumni Torchbearer Award recognize early-career alumni and alumni who are continuing to make a difference post-retirement, respectively.
Douglas W. Anthony ’92, M.Ed. ’01, Ed.D. ’16 is the recipient of the 2026 College of Education Outstanding Alumni Award. Given to a nominee who has demonstrated excellence through leadership and innovation, this award recognizes an individual who has become a pillar of their respective field or area through service, entrepreneurship or academic scholarship. They may have led or inspired change, risen to esteemed positions or exceptionally served their community.
Rising through roles including teacher, principal and associate superintendent in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), one of the nation's largest school districts, Anthony gained over 30 years of experience in public education. He currently serves as director of the UMD College of Education’s doctoral program in school system leadership, which has been selected as a finalist for the Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate Program of the Year for two consecutive years. He is also a senior fellow for the college’s Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii), co-lead of the center’s new Central Office Leadership Academy and CEO of the Anthony Consulting Group. In PGCPS, Anthony secured and managed over $40 million in grant funding, making the district a national model for leadership development. His work as a consultant has had a national impact, through presenting at national conferences and contributing to research on educational equity. A mentor to many leaders in education, Anthony is known for his integrity, empathy and supportive leadership style. Anthony is a three-time Terp, earning a bachelor of arts degree in speech and English education, a master of education degree in education leadership and policy studies, and a doctorate of education in educational leadership.
Carole Goodman ’73, M.A. ’78 will receive the 2026 Linda Pieplow Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award. Named in honor of the inaugural award recipient, Linda Pieplow, 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.
With over 40 years of teaching and leadership experience within Montgomery County Public Schools, Goodman shares her expertise with future generations of educators through her volunteer service and mentorship at the College of Education. Goodman was instrumental in launching the College of Education Alumni Network and has been a key part of the success of its most impactful career development event, Jump Start Your Job Search, by sharing her expertise in school hiring and leadership with aspiring educators. She has also guided future teachers in the job search process during other UMD events, providing support for developing resumes and preparing for interviews. In addition, she and her family have generously supported the College of Education and initiatives across UMD as philanthropists for decades. Goodman’s leadership has inspired her colleagues, fellow alumni and countless students to understand the importance of leading in equitable ways that foster learning and achievement for all. She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in art education and a master of arts degree in secondary art education from UMD.
Two alumni will receive the College of Education Alumni Student Impact Award this year: Marsha Guenzler-Stevens Ph.D. ’93 and Salvador B. Mena Ph.D. ’13. Intended as a lifetime achievement award, this honor is given to nominees who have dedicated their careers in service to students. It recognizes the contributions of alumni whose longevity in their positions or careers has allowed them to have a significant, positive impact on countless students.
Spring 2026 marked the conclusion of Guenzler-Stevens’ 44-year career as a student affairs professional at UMD. Starting as assistant director of campus activities in 1982, Guenzler-Stevens worked late nights attending student organization meetings, overseeing Greek life and managing student life crises. She has supported students with love and compassion through everything from a tornado that ripped through campus, the terrorist attacks of September 11, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently serving as director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Guenzler-Stevens oversaw more than 600 staff members and student employees. She also taught many courses at UMD including “Higher Education Administration,” “Women and Leadership” and UNIV100, a one-credit course most new students take during their first semester. She has mentored countless student leaders and has literally reshaped the UMD campus with the creation of the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance and the Student Involvement Suite. Guenzler-Stevens obtained a doctorate of education from UMD.
Mena currently serves as senior vice chancellor for the student experience at Rutgers University. In this role, he provides institution-wide leadership for student success, well-being, belonging and engagement, overseeing a division that serves more than 50,000 students and employs over 1,200 staff members and thousands of student employees. Mena led the creation of a comprehensive Basic Needs Center, significantly expanding Rutgers University’s capacity to address food and housing insecurity with dignity and effectiveness. He has expanded mental health and wellness infrastructure and championed the development of new academic-adjacent units such as Graduate Student Life and Commuter Student Life, ensuring that historically underserved student populations receive intentional, institutionally embedded support. As a first-generation college student, Mena has spent his 30-year career in higher education focused on advancing student success, institutional transformation and inclusion. He is known for his ethical leadership and his contributions to policy, scholarship and professional development. Mena earned his doctorate of student affairs from UMD.
This year, there will be three recipients of the College of Education Alumni Changemaker Award: Simone Gibson Ph.D. ’09, Tiffany Jones M.A. ’09 and Sarah Sirgo ’97, M.A. ’99, Ph.D. ’14. This award is given to nominees who have “changed the conversation” in the field of education through their work in the pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion. It recognizes alumni whose work has served or focused on historically marginalized populations and has offered new perspectives, broken away from traditional understanding or created notable change in experiences and outcomes.
Gibson started her career as an administrator for Prince George’s County Public Schools and is now an associate professor at the Morgan State University School of Education and Urban Studies and assistant director for the university’s National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities. She is co-director of the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity in partnership with UMD, where she has co-led a comprehensive expert review of literacy instruction in all public school districts across the state on behalf of the Maryland State Board of Education and the Accountability and Implementation Board for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Her scholarly work, international engagement and mentorship demonstrate her leadership in transforming literacy education and promoting systemic change for underserved communities. Gibson graduated from UMD with a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.
Jones is deputy director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) learning and development for the Gates Foundation, where she drives organizational strategy across the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe. She is responsible for leveraging DEI learning globally, managing philanthropic resources, developing strategic partnerships and engaging research for social change. In her prior role as deputy director of measurement learning and evaluation at the foundation, she recognized the limitations and closed networks that exist within philanthropy, whereby program officers privilege a small set of methodological approaches and grantees and preserve the status quo. In response, she expanded methodological approaches and partnerships and introduced strategic bodies of research to center equity and advance the goals of the foundation. Jones received a master of arts degree in education policy and leadership from UMD.
With 25 years of experience as an educational leader, Sirgo is currently chief of staff and senior advisor to the superintendent in Frederick County Public Schools, where she serves over 48,000 students, 70 schools and 9,000 employees. In this role, Sirgo exemplifies leadership in advancing educational equity by fostering inclusive policies and practices that amplify marginalized voices and by advancing district initiatives that focus on student belonging, access and representation. Sirgo has played a key role in developing and implementing policies that support students and families from diverse racial, linguistic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her systematic approach bridges vision and implementation and has inspired others to lead with empathy, purpose and equity, ensuring that changes are not temporary but become part of the organizational fabric. A three-time Terp, Sirgo earned a bachelor of arts degree in hearing and speech sciences, a master of arts degree in speech language pathology, and a doctorate in teaching and learning, policy and leadership.
Debuting this year, the Young Alumni Award is bestowed upon recent College of Education graduates who have made meaningful contributions to the field of education and to students, schools, organizations or communities. This award celebrates early-career alumni who demonstrate exceptional promise, leadership and commitment to educational equity, innovation and service. The inaugural Young Alumni Awards will be given to two recipients: Jessica Mahoney ’21, M.Ed. ’22 and Lisa Price ’22, M.Ed. ’24.
Mahoney teaches U.S. History and AP Psychology for Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia. She is also founder and president of the Teacher Action Network, the youngest-ever president of the Virginia Council for the Social Studies and an education and curriculum consultant for the Center for Civic Education. Mahoney is credited for turning a low-enrollment AP Psychology class into a full two-section class with students from all levels and racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. She also brought Rho Kappa, the history honors society, to her school, where students conduct original research and write papers for a school publication. Mahoney earned a bachelor of arts degree in history with a minor in human development and a master of education from UMD.
As a science teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George’s County Public Schools, Price intentionally designs instruction that supports multilingual learners and ensures all students can engage with complex scientific content. She is an active participant in the county-wide biology professional learning community, presenting on effective instructional practices and writing lessons for the county’s science office to integrate state science standards into a phenomenon-based curriculum focusing on the Chesapeake Bay. At her school, Price successfully restarted the Envirothon team, which has now generated enough interest to support multiple teams. Price also tutors students weekly, providing consistent academic support across science disciplines and ensuring that students have access to learning beyond the school day. Price graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences and a master of education degree in secondary science education from UMD.
The Alumni Torchbearer Award, also new this year, is given to nominees who in retirement have continued to make meaningful contributions to education and to students, schools or communities after concluding their primary professional career. This award celebrates alumni who remain actively involved in advancing educational opportunities, mentoring future educators, supporting institutions or contributing to the College of Education’s mission and values through service, advocacy or volunteer leadership. Two alumni will receive the award in its first year: Rocky Lopes ’80 and Contina Quick-McQueen Ed.D. ’17.
Since retiring from an extraordinary career in emergency management, disaster preparedness and national public safety leadership, Lopes has remained deeply engaged in community and educational initiatives by serving as a volunteer paramedic lieutenant with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, a medic with the Salud y Bienestar Latino Health Initiative Clinic, a member of the UMD Alumni Association Board of Governors and a mentor to current UMD students, many of whom are preparing to become classroom teachers. Lopes’ generosity has provided several scholarship opportunities for UMD students. Lopes graduated from UMD with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education.
When she retired in 2024 after 32 years in public education, Quick-McQueen declared that her retirement would be dedicated to championing educational equality and opportunity. She has since served as a fellow for the UMD Post Doctoral Improvement Science Action Network, an educational consultant for the Maryland State Department of Education, a member of the Citizens Review Board for Children on the St. Mary’s County Board and a member of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board. She also mentors and supports future educators as a volunteer in College of Education career development and college recruitment activities. Quick-McQueen obtained her doctorate of education in educational leadership and policy studies from UMD.
