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Collette Heskett’s parents always lovingly remind her that she was born to be in science education. From a young age, Heskett spent most of her time playing “teacher” with her toys or  observing bugs in their habitats for

Alexis “Lex” Hunter’s advisors put it simply: the field needs more scholars like her. “Lex is positioning herself to be both a leading theorist and practitioner of community-engaged research,” said her advisors, Ben Kirshner

Esperanza Zárate always liked working with kids—from coaching summer soccer camps to volunteering at local elementary schools. Now graduating with her elementary education degree, she is ready to continue this passion through her own classroom.

Alyssa Shappee came into college with one big thing in mind: that she was passionate about science. However, it was through the many experiences that she went through at CU �鶹ӰԺ where she realized that she wanted to pursue education. “I was drawn to the School of Education because of its emphasis on equity, hands-on learning and preparing teachers to build meaningful relationships with their students,” said Shappee, the 2026 School of Education Outstanding Contribution to Teaching award recipient.

Growing up in Aurora, Colorado, Jinjae Han had originally decided on CU �鶹ӰԺ because she wanted to stay close to my family. Now, Han is grateful to have picked �鶹ӰԺ. Han is the 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Community Engagement award recipient.

Each year, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers and is a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative research. The 2026 AERA Annual Meeting will take place in Los Angeles from April 8 to 12. Read the CU �鶹ӰԺ's guide to AERA to see our faculty and graduate students participating in this year's conference.

Teacher leadership doesn’t look the same in every classroom or every community. Learn about how two educators—one from a rural district and another working in a Denver metro suburban district—connecting through the Online Teacher Leadership program and how the program is helping them discover new confidence and clarity in their leadership roles.

Two doctoral candidates, Jackquelin “Jackie” Bristol and Alexis “Lex” Hunter, have been selected for National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowships, one of the most prestigious honors for emerging education scholars. Bristol explores how teachers' access to affordable housing intersects with race, space and public education. Hunter investigates how youth of color in community organizing spaces view healing as intimately connected to social justice.

When Marisa Mendoza-Maurer moved from Hawai’i to Colorado to begin her PhD, she didn’t come alone. She brought with her a husband, two young children and a decade's worth of classroom experience as a secondary English teacher. The leap, across an ocean and into a rigorous doctoral program, was nothing short of monumental.

Before stepping into the world of academia, Loraine Glidewell was waist-deep in the waters of the San Luis Valley, sometimes literally. The photo of Glidewell proudly holding a trout on the Arkansas River says it all: “The level of stoke on my face is basically the same level of stoke I feel when I get to talk about rural education!”