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.

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.

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.

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.