Congratulations to our 2026 Awardees


The Indiana University School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an alum by the School. The award was founded in 1977 to recognize alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the school by distinguishing themselves in their careers and have made significant contributions to their community, state and nation through professional service, public service and civic activities.
This year's awards are given in four categories:
The Excellence in PreK-12 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Award recognizes IU School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumni who have excelled in PreK-12 education by providing leadership in the use of innovative classroom methods, programs or other initiatives.
The Excellence in Higher ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Award recognizes IU School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumni who are transforming higher education through exceptional programs, innovative services, and effective leadership.
The Early Career Achievement Award recognizes IU School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumni who have made outstanding professional contributions to the field of education and received their degree from the IU School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø within the last ten years.
The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes graduates who have excelled in their chosen field and demonstrated exceptional civic service and/or charitable responsibility to effect positive social change.
Kursat Cagiltay serves as Dean of the Faculty of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø at TED University in Ankara, Turkiye, where he leads a comprehensive transformation of teacher education through learning engineering, artificial intelligence, and technology-enhanced learning. His work focuses on redesigning teacher preparation for the digital age by integrating learning sciences, human-centered engineering methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration into educational practice.
A graduate of Middle East Technical University, where he earned a BS in Mathematics and an MS in Computer Engineering, Cagiltay received dual PhD degrees in Instructional Systems Technology and Cognitive Science from Indiana University in 2002. Earlier in his career, he served as the technical group manager of the team that brought the Internet to Turkiye in 1993, helping establish the country’s first national Internet connection.
Throughout his academic career, Cagiltay has combined research excellence with large-scale educational innovation. His research spans technology-enhanced learning, human-computer interaction, learning engineering, and eye-tracking technologies. In 2021, he was ranked among the three most productive and influential researchers in the field of education in Turkiye. More recently, a global bibliometric analysis ranked him among the world’s top 10 researchers in eye-tracking studies in educational technology.
Cagiltay has led several significant educational initiatives. He directed Turkiye’s largest MOOC platform, providing free online education to more than one million learners. He also founded the Digital Teachers Project, which has trained more than 10,000 teachers in digital pedagogy. Through these initiatives, along with numerous European Union-funded projects, he has expanded equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities while advancing innovation in teacher education and educational technology.
Outside of his professional work, Cagiltay enjoys sailing, scuba diving, and other outdoor adventure sports. He has been married to his wife, Nergiz, for more than 35 years, and together they have two children. His daughter spent part of her childhood in Bloomington during his doctoral studies at Indiana University, and his son was born there, making Bloomington a place that holds special significance for their family.
David Woodward is an accomplished educational leader and nationally recognized school safety professional with more than three decades of experience in education, student services, and public safety. He currently serves as Director of Student Services for Carmel Clay Schools, where he oversees districtwide safety initiatives, emergency preparedness, mental health collaboration, and the coordination of school resource officers and nursing services across 15 school buildings.
Prior to joining Carmel Clay Schools, Woodward served for 13 years as Director of the Division of School Building Physical Security and Safety for the Indiana Department of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. In this role, he provided school safety training and technical assistance to school districts throughout Indiana and helped establish one of the largest networks of certified school safety professionals in the nation.
Throughout his career, Woodward has collaborated extensively with state and federal agencies, co-authored numerous school safety publications and guidance documents, and served on several advisory boards dedicated to improving K–12 security and emergency preparedness. His work has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Carmel Clay Schools Administrator of the Year Award and the Indiana School Resource Officers Association School Safety Leader of the Year Award.
A frequent presenter at state and national conferences, Woodward has provided training and consultation on topics ranging from emergency preparedness and threat assessment to school security and violence prevention. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, both from Indiana University.
Woodward is married to Gina Woodward, who also holds two degrees from Indiana University. Their son, Cooper Woodward, is a 2026 Indiana University graduate, continuing the family’s strong connection to IU.
Dr. Garrett M. Carter is an award-winning educator, best-selling author, and educational leader dedicated to preparing students for the future. With more than 15 years of experience in education, he has served as both an educator and leader across K–12 and higher education settings, bringing a broad perspective to teaching, leadership, and student success.
Dr. Carter earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati before completing his PhD in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Policy Studies at Indiana University. His scholarship and professional expertise have been featured in newspapers, podcasts, and professional publications, including HuffPost and Principal Leadership magazine.
As an accomplished author, Dr. Carter has written six children’s books and five nonfiction books focused on education, several of which have achieved Amazon bestseller status in their respective categories. One of his nonfiction education titles was also recognized with a Readers’ Favorite Book Award.
Dr. Carter currently serves as the inaugural principal of a middle school in central Ohio, where he was selected to open and establish the new school. Today, he leads a learning community of approximately 750 students and more than 90 educators and staff, fostering a culture centered on student success, strong relationships, and continuous improvement. Through his writing, speaking, and leadership, Dr. Carter continues to inspire students, educators, and fellow leaders to create meaningful and lasting impact.
Beyond his professional work, Dr. Carter serves on the scholarship committee at City of Grace Church, reflecting his commitment to supporting students and serving his community. He enjoys reading, staying active, and spending time with his wife, Bria, and their children, Gia and Lenix. He values faith, family, and service to others.
Dr. James E. Jones is a distinguished educator, researcher, and leader whose career has made a lasting impact on pediatric dentistry, health sciences education, and Indiana University. Jones earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky, a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Louisville, and later completed his specialty certificate in pediatric dentistry and Master of Science in Dentistry at Indiana University.
While serving as an IU faculty member, he was selected for a two-year Robert Wood Johnson Dental Health Services Research Fellowship at Harvard University.
Throughout his career, Dr. Jones held numerous academic and leadership positions. He served as Graduate Program Director, professor, and Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry while earning his Doctor of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø from Indiana University. He later spent 12 years as Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. During his tenure, he also served as a Congressional Fellow in the 107th Congress with U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and earned a PhD in Biological Sciences from Empresarial University.
Dr. Jones returned to Indiana University, where he served for 12 years as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. He also held the title of Paul E. Starkey Research Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and served as an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Jones published 142 articles and book chapters, secured more than $5.6 million in educational and research grants, and presented more than 130 continuing education courses across four continents. In 2024, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognized his contributions to the field with the Dr. Louis A. Kay Excellence in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Award.
Dr. Jones retired on December 31, 2024, following a career dedicated to education, research, leadership, and service. He continues his connection to Indiana University through an adjunct appointment at the Indiana University School of Dentistry.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Jones and his wife, Sherry, have been married for 50 years. They have two daughters, Lauren E. Granger, MD, a pediatrician, and Katheren B. Bumgardner, DMD, MSD, a pediatric dentist. He is also the proud “Papa” of four granddaughters.
*2025 award recipient, recognized this year
Shameem is the Executive Vice President and Human Capital Director at Maybank Group in Malaysia, where she leads workforce transformation, the democratization of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology capabilities, and the development of innovative talent and business solutions for a digital-first workforce. Her initiatives emphasize education equality, particularly for minority and traditionally disadvantaged workforce groups. Through programs she designed, over 50% of participants certified in AI have been women, reflecting her commitment to advancing diversity in technology.
She has pioneered the adoption of Generative AI within the financial sector, driving measurable improvements in workforce productivity. Shameem also played a key role in shaping Malaysia’s financial sector future skills framework and has introduced several groundbreaking initiatives, including the Artificial Intelligence Learning Hub, the Maybank Excel Artificial Intelligence Tool (MEAT), and the Impact Learning methodology. Under her leadership, Maybank Group earned multiple accolades, including HR Excellence Awards for Best Talent Management Practice (2016–2018), Best Leadership Development Practice (2017–2018), and Best Learning & Development Practice (2018).
Beyond her corporate leadership, Shameem is a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Research Fellow, having conducted research on workforce transformation at INSEAD Business School in San Francisco. She holds a Doctorate in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with a specialization in Human Performance Technology from Indiana University, USA, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, all from Indiana University.
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN PREK-12 EDUCATION AWARD Jeffrey A. Hendrix (Ed.D. '03) Retired Administrator and Teacher Kokomo, Indiana |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD Ryan N. Goodwin (B.S. '09) Senior Assistant VP for Strategic Initiatives; Chief of Staff Division of Student Success and Well-Being University of Central Florida (UCF) |
![]() | EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Meina Zhu (Ph.D. '19) Associate Professor, Learning Design and Technology Wayne State University College of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø |
![]() | EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Rebecca Bersani (B.S.'18) STEAM teacher, Blue Academy Elementary School Indianapolis, Indiana |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD Mary Lee Seibert (B.S.'63, M.S.'73, Ed.D.'79) Evansville, Indiana |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN PREK-12 EDUCATION AWARD Sharon Johnson Shirley (B.S.'77, M.S.'90) Superintendent, Lake Ridge New Tech Schools Calumet Township, Northwest Indiana |
![]() | OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD Debra Tica Sanchez (B.S.'92) Senior Vice President of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøal Media and Learning Experiences Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN PREK-12 EDUCATION AWARD Pam Fischer (B.S.'88, M.A.'99) High School Scholarship Committee Co-chair Tucscon, AZ |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD Gene Tempel (M.A.’74, Ed.D.’85) Founding Dean Emeritus, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Indiana University |
![]() | OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD Dawn Whitehead (B.A.’97, M.S.’03, Ph.D.’07) Vice President, Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community, and Careers Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) |
![]() | EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Eddie R. Cole (M.S.’09, Ph.D.’13) Associate Professor University of California, Los Angeles |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD Frank D. Sánchez (Ph.D.’03) Senior Fellow Interfaith America |
![]() | OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD Paola Sztajn (Ph.D.’95) Dean, College of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø North Carolina State University |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN PRE-K–12 EDUCATION AWARD Rosemary Wolf Rehak (M.S.’77, Ed.D.’86) School Administrator, retired Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN PRE-K-12 EDUCATION AWARD Lily Albright (B.S.’00, M.S.’06) Principal Unionville Elementary School |
![]() | OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD Janice Brown (Ed.D.’81) Superintendent (Retired) Kalamazoo Public Schools |
![]() | OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD Gene Jongsma (B.S.’64, Ed.D.’71) Retired Educator |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD Lynda R. Wiest (Ph.D. ’96) Professor, College of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and Human Development University of Nevada, Reno |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD Harold "Pete" Goldsmith, Ed.D. (Ed.D.’75) Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, retired Indiana University Bloomington |
![]() | EXCELLENCE IN PREK-12 EDUCATION AWARD Naomi B. Searle, M.Ed. (B.S.’85) 6th Grade Teacher, English Language Arts South Middleton School District |
![]() | EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Susie L. Gronseth, Ph.D. (Ph.D.’11) Clinical Associate Professor University of Houston |
![]() | OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD William H. Parrett, Ph.D. (B.S.’72, M.S.’73, Ph.D.’79) Director Emeritus, Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies Boise State University |
![]() | David A. Ambler, Ed.D. (Ed.D.'66) Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus The University of Kansas |
![]() | Carole Ames, Ph.D. (M.S.’68) Dean Emerita Michigan State University College of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø |
![]() | Marilyn Friend, Ph.D. (M.S.’78, Ph.D.’81) Professor Emerita The University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
![]() | Karen Schuster Webb, Ph.D. (M.S.’73, Ph.D.’80) President Union Institute & University |
![]() | Dena Cushenberry-Burrello (Ed.S.’09, Ed.D.’12) Retired Superintendent of Schools MSD Warren Township |
![]() | Judith A. DeMuth (Ed.D.’99) Superintendent of Schools Monroe County Community School Corporation |
![]() | James B. Luther (Ph.D.’92) Owner & President Luther Consulting, LLC |
![]() | Frederick A. Taylor, Jr. (B.S.’73) Administrator Zephyrhills Health & Rehabilitation Center |
![]() | Brady Barr, PhD (BS’87) Children’s Book Author & Educator/herpetologist/owner Eco Adventures Nature Center |
![]() | Saisuree Chutikul, EdD (MS’57, EdD’62) Chairperson/Member of multiple National Committees in Thailand Country of Thailand |
![]() | Ted S. Hasselbring, EdD (BS’71, EdD’79) Professor of Special ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Vanderbilt University |
![]() | Edson W. Sample (MS’71) Retired Director for Financial Aid Indiana University |
![]() | Kimberly L. King-Jupiter, PhD (MS’93, PhD’98) Special Assistant for Research Initiatives Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Tennessee State University |
![]() | Angela M. McNelis, PhD, RN (MS’90) Professor and Associate Dean for Scholarship, Innovation, and Clinical Science George Washington University School of Nursing |
![]() | A.Y. “Fred” Ramirez, PhD (PhD’99) Professor of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, Concordia University, Irvine Executive Director of EdActs Global |
![]() | Elizabeth J. Whitt (PhD’88) Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Professor in Sociology University of California, Merced |
![]() | Robert E. Draba, PhD, JD (BS'68) Trial Attorney, Antitrust Division United States Department of Justice Washington, DC |
![]() | Peggy A. Hinckley, EdD (BS'74) ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøal Consultant, School Improvement Retired Superintendent |
![]() | R. Elizabeth Odle (MS'74) Retired Program Director, Bridges to Success United Way of Central Indiana |
![]() | Pat Wilson (BS'71, MS'77) Department Chair and Teacher Bloomington High School North |
Richard E. Bishop, EdD (BS'61, MS'71, EdD'77) Retired, Executive Assistant to the President
Indiana University Foundation
Shaun R. Harper, PhD (MS'00, PhD'03)
Associate Professor and Executive Director
Center for the Study of Race and Equity in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Jann Keenan, EdS (MS'79, EdS'80)
Instructional Designer for Health Literacy/Health Equity
The Keenan Group, Inc.
Stanley Warren, EdD (EdS'71, EdD'73)
Retired Dean, Academic Affairs and Professor of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
DePauw University
Abdul Farouk Ahmed (MS'79)
Consultant, Human Resources and Organizational Change & Managing Director, ICC Consultants Centre
Maurice C. Daniels, EdD (BA'72, MS'75, EdD'82)
Dean and Professor, Senior Researcher and Executive Producer, University of Georgia, School of Social Work
David A. Lepkojus (BS'74)
Head Teacher/Supervisor, Counselor, Administrator, Bureau of Indian ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, United States Department of the Interior, Many Farms High School
Dr. Victor A. Smith (MS'72, EdD'77)
Retired, Associate Director, Indiana Urban School Association
Patricia A. Payne (BS'64, MS'75)
Director, Crispus Attucks Museum
Gerald O. Thompkins, Ph.D. (BS'70, MS'77)
Director, STEM ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and Research Center, Kent State University
James E. Weigand (EdD'64)
Dean Emeritus, School of Continuing Studies, Indiana University
Christine O. Cheney (EdD'84)
Dean and Professor of Special ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
University of Nevada College of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
W. Rob Foshay (PhD'77)
Director, Research for the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøal Technology Group
Texas Instruments
James D. Mervilde (MS'81, Spclst'86, EdD'00)
Retired Superintendent
MSD of Washington Township, Indianapolis
Douglas Harris (MS'64, EdD'68)
Retired, Vice President, Knight Ridder Corporation
Earlene Holland (EdS'80)
Retired, Associate Provost, Oakland City University
Keith Jepsen (EdD'84)
President, Global Student Loan Corporation
Youngsoo Kim (PhD'83)
Director, Institute for Teaching & Learning, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul Korea
YoungHwan Kim (PhD'94)
Joseph Russell (MS'68, EdD'70)
H.A.R. Tilaar (MA'66, EdD'67)
Dennis C. Hayes (BS'74, JD'77)
Rodney P. Kirsch (MS'82)
Hazel R. Tribble (MA'75)
B. James Dawson (EdD'84)
Michael Hanes (BS'70, MS'72, PhD'73)
Nathaniel Jones (BS'73, MS'77, Spclst'82)
Patricia Lather (PhD'83)
Bonita S. Beaumont (BS'76)
Carole L. Hahn (EdD'73)
Sharon Robinson Kurpius (PhD'78)
Victor Boschini (EdD'89)
Dale Fuqua (PhD'80)
Sivasailam Thiagarajan (PhD'71, MS'70)
Rick Crosslin (MS'81)
Bonnie Litwiller (MAT'65, EdD'68)
Cynthia Witterhold Cleveland (BS'74, MS'76)
Thomas D. Oakland (MS '65, PhD'67)
Toby Strout (MS'74, PhD'91)
Yvonna S. Lincoln (EdD'78)
Nancy L. Roser (MS'70, EdD'70)
Indiana University Bloomington
School of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø