The University of Maryland College of Education has named longtime community member Donna L. Wiseman as speaker for its 2026 commencement ceremony. She will give the keynote address on Wednesday, May 20, at XFINITY Center at 1:30 p.m.
Wiseman, who served as dean of the College of Education from 2008 to 2017 and retired as a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership, in January, has dedicated her career to advancing teacher preparation, educational leadership and equity in schools and communities.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Wiseman as our commencement speaker,” said Dean Kimberly Griffin. “Over the past 25 years, she has been a valued member of our college community, shaping the experience of countless students, faculty and staff. Her wisdom, leadership and commitment to this community make her an especially meaningful person to inspire our graduates as they begin their next chapter.”
Wiseman helped guide the college through a transformative period of growth, innovation and renewed stability. She led a major academic and departmental reorganization and strengthened the college’s financial foundation, while overseeing significant renovations to the Benjamin Building, including upgraded classrooms and revitalized shared spaces. She helped design the college’s original urban education program, supported efforts to reimagine the Ed.D. program and expanded the Professional Development School network to deepen partnerships between the university and local school systems.
Wiseman joined the UMD faculty in 2001 after holding leadership and faculty positions at Northern Illinois University and Texas A&M University. Her scholarship has focused on teacher education, literacy, school-university partnerships and teacher professional learning. She has authored or edited numerous books and scholarly publications and has served in leadership roles with national organizations including the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
Throughout her career, Wiseman has been recognized for her commitment to mentorship and developing future leaders in education. She has advised doctoral students, supported aspiring teachers and worked closely with policymakers and practitioners to strengthen the profession.
“Graduation is one of the happiest and most meaningful times on a campus, and I am truly thrilled and deeply honored by the invitation to celebrate this very special day with the Class of 2026,” said Wiseman. “To mark this milestone alongside students who have worked so hard, and alongside the faculty, staff and families who supported them, is a privilege I do not take lightly. I look forward to sharing in the joy of this moment and sending them off with the enthusiasm and pride they have so clearly earned.”
Wiseman will be joined by student speakers Ashani Jayasekera M.A. ’22 and Tatum Kirk.
Jayasekera is graduating with a doctorate in Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics, her second degree from the College of Education after completing her master's in measurement, evaluation and statistics in 2022, during which she received the College of Education's Outstanding Master's Student Award. Her dissertation examines how resampling methods can be used to ensure that machine learning algorithms make fair predictions across population subgroups—a critical issue as automated systems increasingly make high-stakes decisions in education and beyond. She has also published several research papers on topics ranging from missing data treatments in social networks to weighting approaches to address survey nonresponse. During her time at UMD she served as a data scientist at the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center, where she examined the potential role of data science in informing the state's educational policy.
Kirk is a special education major, pursuing teaching licensure for students with both mild/moderate (grades 1-8) and severe disabilities (birth-grade 12). She was born and raised in Maryland to an incredible family she holds close to her heart. She is currently working at a public middle school in Montgomery County, providing support to students with severe disabilities and teaching art to students working on Alternative Learning Outcomes. After transferring from Montgomery College, Kirk has grown exponentially as a Terp, being selected as Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of Promise. She hopes to continue her career teaching students with disabilities and fostering their independence in the classroom through unique experiences. She will continue at UMD through the INnovative Special Education Preparation and Induction to Retain Exceptional Diverse (INSPIRED) Teachers program to earn a masters degree in special education.
