COE Honors Graduates at Winter 2017 Commencement
The College of Education’s winter commencement ceremony was held in the Dekelboum Concert Hall at The Clarice on December 20, 2017, with family and friends gathering to honoring the College’s graduates. The College of Education produced 185 graduates in summer and fall 2017: 37 earning their doctorate degrees, 22 receiving advanced graduate specialist certifications, 116 earning master’s degrees and 10 students receiving bachelor’s degrees.
The university-wide commencement was held on December 19, 2017 at the XFINITY Center and featured a commencement address by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings.
Dean Jennifer King Rice told graduates that they are prepared to take on tasks such as teaching and modeling social justice for others; engaging in thoughtful discourse in promoting a peaceful, respectful, inclusive and just society; working to understand the diversity among a range of learners; study the questions of the field and challenging the assumptions of what others think about issues in the field.
“As you move into your chosen careers in the field of education, I challenge you to recognize the extraordinary opportunities in the otherwise ordinary work that you do,” Dean Rice said. “In my view, there is no greater opportunity to be extraordinary, to have a profound and lasting impact on the world, than through the field of education. This is an awesome responsibility, but you’re prepared to take it on."
Amy E. Green, who earned her Ph.D. in science education on Wednesday, told her fellow graduates that though they have been trained to teach others, learning is just as important a skill for they themselves to have as it is for their students.
Through their own learning and listening, educators and researchers can enhance the learning of others and make an impact on their communities.
“The very best teaching results in even better learning,” said Dr. Green, who also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Maryland College of Education.
She taught 4th grade in Montgomery County Public Schools, serving on the School Leadership Team and as the Master Science Teacher in the MCPS Science Leadership program, prior to beginning her doctoral program in COE’s Dept. of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership. Dr. Green works for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as the director of Teacher Professional Learning and continues to teach as a lecturer in the M.Ed. Teacher Leadership, Special Studies in STEM Education outreach degree program.
Following the ceremony, graduates and their family and friends gathered at Rever Hall in the campus’ Riggs Alumni Center for a reception.
