School of Education

Dr. Cristina Santamaría Graff and Dr. Ted Hall Named 2026 Trustees Teaching Award Recipients

School of Education faculty recognized for excellence in teaching and positive impact on student learning.

Dr. Cristina Santamaría Graff and Dr. Ted Hall have been named the School of Education recipients of the 2026 Trustees Teaching Award. This award honors faculty who demonstrate an outstanding positive impact on student learning through direct teaching, especially with undergraduate students.

The Trustees Teaching Award recognizes the university’s best teachers and considers a broad range of teaching excellence, including strong student evaluations, colleague observations, innovative teaching practices, service related to teaching, and teaching publications.

Dr. Tina O’Neal Receives Global Gateway Award

Award recognizes her leadership in advancing inclusive education through international collaboration.

Congratulations to Dr. Tina O’Neal, recipient of the Global Gateway Award. The award honors her leadership in promoting inclusive education through meaningful international collaboration.

The award will support Dr. O’Neal’s upcoming initiative in Accra, Ghana, on May 29, 2026, titled Centering Inclusive Education in Ghana: Panel & Interactive Roundtable.

Through this event, Dr. O’Neal will convene educators and scholars from the University of Ghana, along with organizations supporting students with disabilities, to foster dialogue, share research-informed practices, and strengthen cross-cultural partnerships.

Dr. David Hòa Khoa Nguyen Named 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Vietnam

Prestigious award will support international research, exchange partnerships, and connections with future Indiana University applicants.

The Institute of International Education and the Fulbright Program have selected Dr. David Hòa Khoa Nguyen as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for 2026–2027 in Vietnam.

Fulbright Scholar Awards are prestigious fellowships that provide scholars with transformative opportunities to teach and conduct research abroad, strengthen their professional development, and build long-term connections that enrich their careers, campuses, and communities.

Congratulations to Dr. David Nguyen on this prestigious honor!

Dean Tambra Jackson Selected for Prestigious ACE Fellows Program

Her selection places her among a distinguished national cohort preparing for expanded leadership in higher education.

Congratulations to Dean Tambra Jackson on being selected for the ACE Fellows Program, the longest-running leadership development program in higher education in the United States. She is one of 31 emerging college and university leaders selected for this class, marking a significant milestone in her leadership journey. This prestigious honor reflects her continued dedication to higher education and the strong support she has received from IU Indianapolis. We celebrate this outstanding achievement and wish her the very best on this exciting journey!

Cristina Santamaría Graff and David Hòa Khoa Nguyen Honored with 2026 Faculty Excellence Awards

The awards will be presented at the Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence on April 23, 2026, at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis.

Congratulations to Cristina Santamaría Graff, Ph.D., recipient of the Alvin S. Bynum Award for Excellence in Academic Mentoring, and to David Hòa Khoa Nguyen, J.D., Ph.D., recipient of the Chancellor’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement. These honors recognize their exceptional commitment to student success, academic excellence, and meaningful community impact. Dr. Santamaría Graff’s longstanding dedication to mentoring and Dr. Nguyen’s powerful civic engagement efforts reflect the very best of the campus mission. Both awards will be presented at the Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence!

Two-volume series spotlights science education researchers across the African Diaspora and challenges institutions to build lasting academic “homes.”

Dr. Brittany Garvin celebrates a meaningful milestone as co-editor of Creating and Maintaining a Home in Science Education Research: Voices Across the African Diaspora, a two-volume series on building and protecting “home” in science education research.

The series centers Black and African Diaspora scholars as knowledge producers, highlights justice-oriented approaches to STEM teaching and learning, and offers insight for institutions seeking to strengthen teacher preparation and STEM literacy.

DBAC Student Benjamin Wilson Recognized with Superintendent's Above and Beyond Award

The honor highlights Wilson’s dedication, professionalism, and growing impact as an emerging educator in the MSD of Pike Township community.

Benjamin Wilson, a student in the DBAC program, was recently recognized with the Superintendent's Above and Beyond Award at the MSD of Pike Township Board meeting. This meaningful honor reflects his dedication, professionalism, and positive impact within his school community. As he prepares to begin student teaching this fall, Benjamin continues to demonstrate the qualities of a thoughtful, committed, and student-centered educator. His work and class engagement strongly reflect the mission of the School of Education.

School of Education Students Honored at 2026 IACTE Outstanding Future Educators Banquet

Five students were recognized for academic excellence, professional promise, and dedication during their student teaching experiences.

School of Education students were recognized at the 2026 IACTE Outstanding Future Educators Banquet, an annual event celebrating top student teachers from across Indiana. This honor highlights their academic excellence, professional promise, and commitment throughout their student teaching experiences. Congratulations to Leah Robin, Jody May, Kimberly Lopez, Tyra Lee, and Laney Britt on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud of their achievements and look forward to the positive impact they will make in the field of education!