Alumni Feature

PhD Alumna MiIsha Reid Receives 2023 CEC Dissertation Award

February 28, 2023
Alumni Feature

MiIsha Reid, a 2022 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s PhD in Special Education and Teaching program, recently received the 2023 Dissertation Award from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

Alumnus Ryan Hardesty Named 2023 PA Teacher of the Year

January 11, 2023
Alumni Feature

Hardesty (MAT '09) was recognized for his impact as a middle school social studies teacher in the Blackhawk School District.

Alumna Diane Kirk Receives PA Principals Association Award

November 18, 2022
Alumni Feature

Alumna Diane Kirk was selected as the recipient of the 2022 Educational Excellence Award from the Pennsylvania Principals Association

Alumnus Michael Rizzi Charts the History of Jesuit Colleges and Universities

November 14, 2022
Alumni Feature

EdD in Higher Education Alumnus, Michael Rizzi, published a new book that explores the history of Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. 

EdD Alumna Ayisha Morgan-Lee Selected for Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 Award

October 27, 2022
Alumni Feature

Ayisha Morgan-Lee, a 2020 alumna of the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Out-of-School Learning Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, was recently named to the Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP’S 2022 40 under 40 list.

EdD Alumna Ameeta Schmitt Appointed World Language Curriculum Supervisor

October 26, 2022
Alumni Feature

Ameeta Schmitt, a 2020 alumna of the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Language, Literacy, and Culture program, was appointed the World Language Curriculum Supervisor for Pittsburgh Public Schools. 

Alumna Valerie Howard Appointed Dean of UNC School of Nursing

June 2, 2022
Alumni Feature

Howard has built her career by developing innovative models to educate nurses.

Alumna TaMisha Greathouse Appointed Director of USC Campus Activities

April 8, 2022
Alumni Feature

Alumna TaMisha Greathouse has been appointed as the Director of Campus Activities at the University of Southern California (USC). 

Online High School Created by Alum Richard Goldman Partners with Amazon

March 22, 2022
Alumni Feature

An online high school co-founded by Richard M. Goldman (BA A&S ’64; MEd ’66, PhD ’70) has partnered with Amazon to provide the company’s global workforce with a pathway to a high school diploma.

PhD Alumnus Chris Olshefski Receives AERA Research Award

March 17, 2022
Alumni Feature

Alumnus Chris Olshefski recently received the 2022 Dissertation of the Year Award from the American Educational Research Association Religion and Education Special Interest Group.

Alumna Dawna Jones Appointed as Director of Duke’s Black Culture Center

March 3, 2022
Alumni Feature

Dawna Jones, a 2009 alumna of the Master of Higher Education program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, was appointed as director of Duke University’s Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture.

Alumna Jennifer Marchessault Named the Virginia Reading Teacher of the Year

February 24, 2022
Alumni Feature

Jennifer Marchessault, a 2000 alumna of the Master of Education and Reading Specialist Certificate program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, has been named the Virginia State Literacy Association’s Ofie T. Rubin Reading Teacher of the Year.

EdD Alumnus Bill Fox Named Vice President at Antioch College

December 17, 2021
Alumni Feature

Pitt School of Education alum Bill Fox (EdD '20) was recently appointed as the vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Antioch College.

EdD Alumna Stephanie Fiely Advances New Manufacturing Assistance Program

December 10, 2021
Alumni Feature

Alumna Stephanie Fiely's dissertation laid the foundation for the Swanson School of Engineering’s new Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC) at Pitt Titusville. 

Alumni Spotlight: Luke Novosel Finds Career Success From Pitt Exercise Science

December 8, 2021
Alumni Feature

Luke Novosel is a 2014 alumnus of the the B.S in Exercise Science program,a 2018 graduate of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Pittsburgh, and now works for the New York Mets as a Minor League Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer. In this Q&A, Luke talks about being a student in the Exercise Science program. 

Alumni Spotlight: Connor Keenan Excels in Sports Performance

December 2, 2021
Alumni Feature

Connor Keenan is a 2020 graduate of the B.S. in Exercise Science program and is currently pursuing his master’s in health and human services at Youngstown State University while serving as the Director of Sports Performance for the Women’s Basketball team. In the Q&A, he discusses why he pursued a degree in exercise science and his internship experiences at Robert Morris University and...

Alumni Spotlight: Trung Bui’s Success with Pitt Education Leads to Physical Therapy School

November 30, 2021
Alumni Feature

Trung Bui is a 2021 graduate of the B.S. in Exercise Science program and is a first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. In this Q&A, he discusses his internship with the Jewish Community Center  and how Pitt prepared him for physical therapy school.

Alumni Spotlight: Seven Hours in the Operating Room Inspires Samantha Giangrasso to Pursue Medicine

November 15, 2021
Alumni Feature

Samantha Giangrasso is a 2021 graduate of the Master of Science in Clinical Physiology program. In the Q&A, she shares a life-changing experience through an internship placement at UPMC.

Alumni Spotlight: Kotaro Tamura’s Impactful Internship with the Children’s Institute

November 15, 2021
Alumni Feature

Kotaro Tamura is a 2019 graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program. In this Q&A, he discusses his internship experience at the Children’s Institute and how Pitt’s program prepared him to become a physical therapist.

Alumni Spotlight: Rebecca Ocel’s Pathway to Becoming a Physical Therapist

November 11, 2021
Alumni Feature

Rebecca Ocel is a 2016 alumna of the the B.S in Exercise Science program and is a 2020 graduate of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Pittsburgh. In this Q&A, Rebecca talks about being a student in the Exercise Science program, her internship experience with P3R.

Alumni Spotlight: Christine Sperdute’s Internships Lead to Job in Health Programming and Promotion

November 11, 2021
Alumni Feature

Christine Sperdute is a 2014 almna of the B.S. in Exercise Science  program and a 2015 graduate of the Master of Science in Health and Physical Activity Programming and Promotion. In this Q&A she discusses how Pitt’s programs helped her in her career goals.

Alumni Spotlight: Jordan Salsberry’s Experiences Led to Occupational Therapy

November 10, 2021
Alumni Feature

Jordan Salsberry is a 2014 graduate of the B.S in Exercise Science program. In this Q&A, she talks about how the University of Pittsburgh prepared her for her career as an Occupational Therapist and her impactful internship experience at the Children’s Institute. 

Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Godoy’s Education Featured MLB Draft Combine Experience

November 3, 2021
Alumni Feature

Jessica Godoy is a 2021 graduate of the Master in Health and Physical Activity Programming and Promotion program. In this Q&A, she talks about her internship with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and participating in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Draft League Combine. 

PhD Alumnus Adam Alvarez Receives AERA Research Award

September 29, 2021
Alumni Feature

Adam Alvarez, a 2018 alum of the PhD Social and Comparative Analysis program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, has received the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA) 2021 Review of Research Award for his article, “Seeing Race in the Research on Youth Trauma and Education.”