Author: Brianna Alford

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Counseling and Development program have selected Kayla Vaughan as the Outstanding Student in Counseling and Development (School Counseling Program). Congratulations, Kayla!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Counseling and Development (School Counseling Program), Kayla Vaughan:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of? 

Finishing my Master’s degree is definitely the academic accomplishment I am most proud of. 

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason? 

Chase Dreams Not Boys student organization, Student Government, Leadership Education & Development (LEAD) Office, UNIV Courses & Programs, and Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honor Society. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

After graduation, I hope to work full-time as a school counselor at either the elementary or high school level (I’m still torn between the two!) 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

My favorite memories in CEHD are the Counseling and Development program orientations I was able to be a part of with Chi Sigma Iota. I loved these events because it was so exciting to meet the new students in the program and answer their questions. 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)? 

One piece of advice I have for CEHD students is to really take time to think about your “Why”. Reflect on what lead you to the program you’re in and the short and long-term goals you have for yourself. When school gets overwhelming, I hope that gives you the motivation you need to keep moving forward! 

 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Learning Technologies program have selected Erin Morris as the Outstanding Student in Learning Technologies. Congratulations, Erin!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Learning Technologies, Erin Morris:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of? 

Winning a Program Award, for one thing! I am also incredibly proud of the work that my group created for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture for the EDIT 735/752 class with Dr. Clark; we researched and developed a prototype that created an online space for one of their physical museum exhibits, and it was a really amazing process to be a part of. 

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason? 

In my final semester, I was invited to join Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. I’m just beginning to dive into the resources that they have available, but I am looking forward to getting more involved with KDP in the coming months. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

The learning never stops, as they say – I’m going to take a few months to breathe a bit, and then look into learning JavaScript. I am a multimedia designer, and life always takes me towards projects that involve web design, so strengthening those skills is a must! Outside of work and academia, I’m hoping to create some watercolor paintings that I can exhibit in local art galleries. 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

I have really appreciated the time that I’ve gotten to spend in class with my various professors. I am thoroughly convinced that they are all the smartest people that I’ve ever met, and I’ve learned more from them than I ever thought I could. 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)? 

Follow the rubrics, but don’t be afraid to be creative! Also, burnout is real, so try to find healthy ways to clear your mind if the stress of the grad school schedule is getting to you (my solution was to watch mindless B movies on Netflix). 

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself? 

I just want to say thank you to the School of Education, and to all of the professors and fellow students who made my experience an excellent one. I’m not sure that I fully knew what I was getting into when I started, but I’m beyond grateful for everything that this program has given me. 

 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Education Leadership program have selected Nathaniel Hoffa as the Outstanding Student in Education Leadership. Congratulations, Nathaniel!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Education Leadership, Nathaniel Hoffa:

What academic accomplishment are you most proud of? 

Passing the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) exam. I put in a lot of time and commitment on preparing to take the SLLA exam. It was challenging learning all the information needed for the assessment while trying to keep my personal experiences from clouding my judgment. I learned that my experiences as an educator do not always reflect correctly according to the standards. I recommend that those who take the SLLA exam to attend the review session offered by Mason as well as find and use any sort of review material offered online. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for it, take practice assessments, and read lots of practice test questions. 

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason? 

I was a student-athlete for Mason. I played for the baseball team during the 2011-2014 seasons.  We won the Atlantic 10 conference tournament during my senior year, which earned us a spot in the NCAA tournament. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

I have been a 3rd grade teacher at Occoquan Elementary in Prince William County for the last 5 years. Currently, I am interviewing for an administrative role in the county. 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

This is so tough! I had many great experiences during these past two years with my professors as well as the SLLA review session with Dr. Biggs and the coffee breaks in the leadership office chatting with folks. If I had to choose one memory, I really enjoyed having Dr. Anthony Terrell as an instructor. He always started class with an interview question and had us type up a response to it. Then he would ask for a volunteer to share. This experience was quite insightful and gave me great ideas on how to respond to common interview questions. 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)? 

Take the time to build a friendship with your professors. They all have vast knowledge and experience in leadership, and you should seek advice from them. Pick their brains on any topic and share your successes with them as well! 

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself? 

I’m still going back and forth with the idea, but once I have a year or two under my belt in the role of an administrator, I may seek further education in a doctorate program. 

 

 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Educational Psychology program have selected Mohammed Aljohani as the Outstanding Student in Educational Psychology (Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing). Congratulations, Mohammed!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Educational Psychology (Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing), Mohammed Aljohani:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of? 

One of the greatest academic achievements I am proud of during my time at Mason was the capstone project. Thanks to Dr. Varier’s confidence, my capstone project mentor, and the advice given by the faculty in the educational psychology program, I was able to learn and apply a meta-analysis using R. I did not have any clue of how to do a meta-analysis nor even knowing what R was. Still, I went beyond my expectations, and I did it. The faculty provided me with advice and resources, helped me overcome my fear of actually doing some advanced statistics, and offered valuable feedback that helped achieve my goal. 

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason? 

I was affiliated with the Yanbu English Language and Preparatory Year Institution at the Royal Commission for Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. They sponsored my scholarship, and I thank them for their support. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

I plan to complete my Ph.D. in the near future in the field of my specialization. But before that, I will spend some time applying and developing the knowledge I acquired at Mason. 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

My memories at the College of Education and Human Development were numerous, whether with the faculty, the fellow graduate students, and even with all Patriots at Mason. The friendly and inspiring conversations I had with the faculty in their office hours had a special place in my heart. These conversations were not about my academic work only, but a true intellectual talk in which my perspective was listened to, critiqued, praised, and even developed. My academic advisor, my capstone project mentor, and all faculty helped me go beyond what I expected to achieve. This is so special for me as they had faith in me, and that changed my own judgment of what possible is. 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)? 

If there is one area or research technique that you do not know, go for it, use it, and be proud as there is no success without taking big steps. Graduate school is not about advancing your career or developing your academic skills only; it is about rediscovering yourself and going beyond your own prejudice and expectations. 

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself? 

Currently, I am teaching courses at the undergraduate level, and thanks to the experience I had at Mason, I developed my teaching skills as I applied what I experienced and improved the quality of feedback and assessments I give to my students. 

 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Recreation Management program have selected Matthew Mast as the recipient of the Thomas L. Goodale Award for the Outstanding Student in Recreation Management (Parks and Outdoor Recreation). Congratulations, Matthew!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Recreation Management (Parks and Outdoor Recreation), Matthew Mast:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of? 

My internship is what I’m most proud of. It gave me chance to actually go out there and put what I’ve learned into action, and using the textbooks, notes, and knowledge that I’ve gathered with the guidance of all of the great faculty. 

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason? 

I was on the Mason Swim Club for 3 semesters and Rho Phi Lambda starting Junior year 

What are your plans after graduation?  

I’m working on applying for jobs right now, which is made a little more difficult due to the pandemic but I know I’ll find something I love soon. I’ve thought long and hard about what exactly I’d like to do, and I decided that finding anywhere that I can be responsible for getting youth into recreation opportunities that they might not have had without that organization, I will be happy. So, a pretty low bar for this field but that it honestly all I’ll need to make me happy (at least at first). 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

My favorite memories of CEHD definitely has to be the time in my Outdoor Education class that I somehow managed to tip a canoe during a class excursion. The water was cold, but the professors we were with knew exactly what to do. It actually ended up being a great learning lesson on handling that type of situation. 

What advice do you have for current CEHD students? 

A million times: build relationships with the faculty. All of my instructors were either practitioners in the field or were very well acquainted with practitioners in the field. On multiple occasions, I either got to work or to class for my supervisor or instructor to tell me that they just had a conversation with the other about me. So, that conversation is what you make it because it’s going to happen! Luckily, the faculty in my school have been really easy to build genuine relationships with.