Alumni Successes

Our alumni impact the field of education through their service, scholarship, leadership, and work inside and outside classrooms in the region and throughout the world. Here we take a moment to honor and thank them for their work.

Eva Allen, Ed.D. '17
Educational Leadership

Recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Research and Publication Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD). This award is granted annually to a PASCD member whose scholarship has significantly impacted education through research and publications. Learn more about her work.

Emtinan Alqurashi, Ed.D. ‘17
Educational Technology/Instructional Technology & Leadership

Recipient of the 2019 AECT Division of Distance Learning Best Journal Article Award for her quantitative research article. The award recognizes an outstanding article describing best practices in distance education or the research on an important aspect of distance education. Learn more about Dr. Alqurashi's work.

Anna V. Blake, Ed. '16
Instructional Technology

As K-12 schools closed throughout the U.S. due to the coronavirus epidemic, Anna V. Blake's 400+ elementary school students at Elizabeth Forward School District had their iPads primed, ready to learn. Duquesne's School of Education alumna, Anna was ready to lead. Anna is the Elementary Technology Integrator at Elizabeth Forward School District located in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. She also serves on the Duquesne University School of Education's Alumni Advisory Board. Learn more about Anna and her work.

Dr. Valerie Harper
Educational Leadership '20

The beauty and power of Dr. Valerie Harper's work are not only in the difference she has made in the lives of others, but how she makes that difference - it is simply by being who she is. Whether she is on campus with a law student, advising a colleague on mentoring a student, organizing food and clothing drives for those in need, or bringing a runway show from Dress for Success to a women's shelter, Dr. Harper has a gracious and unyielding commitment to listen with deep sincerity and openness to understand and truly see the person across from her so she can use all her facilities to help her neighbor, whoever they may be and whatever their situation. Learn more about her work.

Jamillia Kamara
Educational Leadership

Congratulations to School of Education Ed.D. in Educational Leadership doctoral candidate Ms. Jamillia Kamara- recipient of Pittsburgh Magazine's and PUMP's 40 Under 40 Awards! Ms. Kamara is amongst a select group of Pittsburgh young professionals nominated for this award. Read more about Ms. Kamara and this honor. Learn more about her work.

Jeff Mallory, Ed.D. '19
Educational Leadership

Congratulations to School of Education alum Dr. Jeff Mallory - recipient of Pittsburgh Magazine's and PUMP's 40 Under 40 Awards! Dr. Mallory is amongst a select group of Pittsburgh young professionals nominated for this award. Read more about Dr. Mallory and this honor. Learn more about his work.

O'Black, Bryan Ed.D. '15
Educational Leadership

Congratulations to Ed.D. Educational Leadership alum, Dr. Bryan O'Black. Dr. O'Black was one of the 17 education professionals across the nation to receive the University Counsel for Educational Administration's (UCEA) Excellence in Leadership Award. Dr. O'Black is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Shaler Area School District. Learn more about his work and UCEA award.

Pankowski, Peg, Ed.D. '03
Instructional Leadership

This year - 2021 - is the culmination of "Dr. Peg's" 50+ year career, beginning in 1967. When many younger educators find themselves working with educators of Dr. Peg's generation, it may feel that there is little commonality. However, the experience of educating and sharing knowledge is universal and connects the generations. Younger educators may have more in common with "veteran educators" than they may realize. Dr. Peg has also been a first-generation college student, working mother, and adult over 40 returning to school to pursue advanced degrees. Learn more about her work and service.

Redinger, Andrea M.S.Ed. '02
Secondary Education

WQED Pittsburgh captured the brilliance of Andrea (Ferraco) Redinger, graduate Secondary Education alum in their iQ Smartparent Teachable Moments: Searching for Critters video spotlight where she opens introducing herself and the bearded dragon Princess that she holds as she is accessorized with dangling lizard earrings. Mrs. Redinger is just plain fun, and simply brilliant in her hands-on approach to inspire and engage students.

Stolar, Kaeli, B.S.Ed. '19
Early Childhood Education

"You can do all of these things even though you are only four or five years old. You want to be an artist? You can be an artist. You want to be a dancer? You can be a dancer," Ms. Kaeli Stolar recounts to her local NBC news during her TV spotlight featuring the creativity and resourcefulness she brings to her kindergarteners so their education is not deterred by the pandemic at Washington Montessori Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. Read more about Kaeli and her spotlight.

Torquato, Kayla, B.S.Ed. '19
Early Childhood Education

School of Education alum Ms. Kayla Torquato works with her colleagues to ensure the curriculum at Urban Pathways K5 College Charter School is culturally responsive to all their students. Ms. Torquato and colleagues are taking a deep dive looking at the curriculum and reaching out to young educators to form a think tank for this mission. Their flyer reads, "If a curriculum does not respond to a culture, then the culture won't respond to a curriculum." Read more about Ms. Torquato's work.

Michael J. Warren, M.S.Ed. '18
Education Administration, K-12

A round of applause to Michael J. Warren for his work both on and off the stage. Congratulations to him on the release of his debut Christmas album - A Peace of Christmas. Michael is an alum of Duquesne's School of Ed and School of Music. Currently, he is a music educator and is pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Learn more about his work, music, and impact.

Joe Welch, B.S.Ed. '07
Secondary Education

Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award, 2020

We once again congratulate School of Education alumni Joseph Welch, E'07, for his inspirational work as an educator as the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) awarded him the 2020 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award. Learn about Welch's inspirational work and this award from PDE.

National History Teacher of the Year Award, 2018

Youngest winner of the National History Teacher of the Year Award, 2018. The award recognized Joe's unique approaches to engaging students in the classroom, such as using art and technology to encourage students to identify with and understand the people and stories of America's history. Read his feature in the Duquesne Magazine, Fall 2019 Issue and watch his video.

Rev. Dr. Ronald Whitaker, Ed.D. '14
Educational Leadership

Reverend Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker's work and award exemplify the spirit of leadership and social justice of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program at Duquesne University which he graduated from in 2014. Rev. Dr. Whitaker was just appointed as Pastor of Mother African Union Church in Wilmington, Delaware. This historic church was the first incorporated black church of the United States. Learn more about his work.