We are wrapping up our first year as the Feinstein College of Education, and what a year it has been! Although I am sure you’ll agree that every year should be, “The Year of Education,” we are excited to recap the events highlighting our inaugural year. In addition to hosting many excellent speakers, which are described further in this issue, we also instituted several new traditions:

• Spirit of Partnership Award, given annually to a shining example of one of our school/district partners.
• Teacher Appreciation Week “swag baskets,” full of Rhody gear and cheer to thank our educational partners for their work with the College.
• Medallion Induction Ceremony, a celebration of our future educators as they successfully completed their student teaching.

There is plenty more to celebrate in this issue of our Educators and Innovators June newsletter, such as:

• Commencement speaker and Teaching Excellence Award Winner, Jaylyn DeLeon (’24), is a first-generation college student who chose to inspire young minds with a degree in education.
• Assistant professor, Tashal Brown, earned the remarkably prestigious National Academy of Education Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship to study the influence of anti-Blackness in school curriculums.
• Distinguished professor, John Boulmetis, was recently inducted into the International Adult Education Hall of Fame.
• Faith Simonini (‘24) earned a Fulbright Award to teach English in Greece.
• Kelsea Adams (’16, ‘MA ’17) a graduate of our elementary and special education programs, was named a URI 10 Under 10 Award recipient.

As dean of the URI Feinstein College of Education, I am so proud of the accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We are also fortunate to have those of you that share in our success through this newsletter. Thank you for your continued support!

Go Rhody!
Danielle V. Dennis
Dean