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Program Award Winner: Mohammed Aljohani

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. 

 

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