As Dean Mia Tuan enters her final quarter, she reflects on 11 years of leadership, the people and relationships that have shaped the College, and the impact of its work. Looking ahead, she shares a message of hope: dream boldly, stay connected to community, and take care of one another.
How the Haring Center brings teaching, research and professional learning together to help create more inclusive classrooms across Washington.
For doctoral student Sarah Kaufman, supporting students means looking at the whole child. As a PhD student in School Psychology at the UW College of Education, her work spans from early childhood to adolescence, helping young people build the social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life. Through her research on self-regulation in preschool classrooms, Kaufman is working to equip educators with meaningful, practical tools that support every learner from the very beginning.
For doctoral student Mallory Hutchings-Tryon, teaching is a collaborative process. At the UW College of Education, she encourages students to share their experiences, question assumptions, and explore how education systems work around the world. Her research also examines the history of school dress codes and how policies can affect students’ access to the classroom.
College of Education alumnus Dr. James Meadows (PhD, '03, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies) has received the 2026 James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The national award recognizes his decades of leadership advancing educator quality, expanding National Board Certification and strengthening pathways into the teaching profession.
Meet April Boyce! Seattle educator, researcher, mother, and doctoral student April “AC” Boyce explores how children, families, and communities practice care, connection and belonging through the Filipino value of kapwa, the idea that our well-being is deeply tied to one another. Her research challenges individualistic approaches to education and highlights the relational intelligence children demonstrate every day through empathy, collaboration and community care.
On June 9, 2026, the University of Washington College of Education came together to celebrate the Class of 2026 in a joyful and inspiring graduation ceremony led by Dean Mia Tuan. The event honored more than 700 graduates marking a significant milestone for a class defined by perseverance, purpose, and a deep commitment to serving others.
We had the chance to sit down with Dr. Manka Varghese, Program Director for the Language, Literacy and Culture Program, who shared her journey into multilingual education and offered insights into how the program prepares educators to work with diverse linguistic and cultural communities.
Rooted in family, faith and a belief in radical kindness, one UW student is preparing to shape the next generation—at home and around the world.
Shorewood High School Assistant Principal Melyssa Stone (MEd, ’16), a Danforth program alumna and longtime Leading Towards Justice steering committee member, has been named the 2026 Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year and was recently appointed by the Governor to the Professional Educator Standards Board. Read the Q&A!