Simmons 2025 Outstanding Alumni Honored at Awards Ceremony

Left to right: Julie Sorrels, Sarah Guthery, Cynthia Barajas, Blanca Oliver.
Left to right: Julie Sorrels, Sarah Guthery, Cynthia Barajas, Blanca Oliver.

Seven distinguished alumni were honored during the annual Simmons Outstanding Alumni and Student Awards Ceremony on May 15. Simmons School of Education and Human Development is proud to celebrate and acknowledge the past and current accomplishments of the honorees who serve to better their communities both locally and across the country. Dean Stephanie Knight and Simmons Department Chairs presented the awards.

Canyon Kyle is a distinguished Sport Performance Leadership graduate from the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management. He graduated Cum Laude from SMU with a BS SPL and a minor in Sport Management in 2021 and advanced his academic and professional journey by earning a master’s degree in Sport Management from Columbia University.

He now serves as Assistant Baseball Coach and Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education at Columbia, where he leads athletic recruitment, manages prospective athlete development, and teaches senior-level undergraduate courses. Canyon’s unwavering commitment to student-athlete growth and leadership through sport directly reflects the values he cultivated at SMU.

Julie Sorrels graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling from SMU in August of 2020. She currently serves as the Mental Healthcare Clinical Manager at Resource Center in Dallas where she provides counseling services to the LGBTQIA+ community. She is  fully licensed both as a Professional Counselor and  Marriage and Family Therapist and is certified by the American Board of Sexology as a Clinical Sexologist.

At Resource Center Dallas, she serves as an internship site supervisor and mentor for current SMU students and is also a member of the SMU Counseling Department Advisory Board. Her service and community impact are the reason she is the recipient of the 2025 Department of Counseling Alumnus of the Year award.

Dr. Greses Perez had an established career as a civil and environmental engineer in her native Puerto Rico before graduating from  the SMU Accelerated School Leadership Master’s Program in 2014.  Greses met the challenge of producing a 30 plus page capstone project, working diligently with supportive faculty to improve her academic writing. She did this while teaching science to elementary school bilingual students.

Greses went on to Stanford where she would graduate in 2021 with a PhD in Engineering and Science Education and Learning Sciences. She is now the McDonnel Family Assistant Professor in Engineering Education at Tufts University. The Education Policy & Leadership Department is proud to have Greses as its 2025 Alumni of the Year.

Blanca Oliver, a migrant from Mexico, developed persistence and a can-do attitude in her childhood that carried her forward into a career as a successful paralegal.

Blanca received a Master’s in Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management in the Department of Human Centered Interdisciplinary Studies in 2021, where she excelled in the experiential learning environment. After graduation, Blanca entered her first political race and won. She is now a Justice of the Peace in Denton County. Blanca believes her time at SMU helped shape her as an effective communicator and leader which benefits her greatly in her position today.

Dr. Sarah Guthery, a PhD in Education, Class of 2017, is an Associate Professor of Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision at the University of Oklahoma. A former teacher and school leader, she uses econometric methods to study teacher and leadership pipelines. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and has received grant funding in excess of $200,000.

According to her PhD advisors, what most distinguishes Sarah is her inventive teaching and her dedication to mentoring emerging scholars. For example, she uses a statistics escape room and gamification of statistics to help students unlock their passion for research.

Dr. Dawn Woods received her PhD in Education in 2018 from SMU and is now an assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Services at Oakland University. She recently received a five-year, $781,196 CAREER award from the National Science Foundation in support of her research, entitled Sparking Number Talks to Strengthen Mathematical Identities.

Dr. Woods’ research focuses on cultivating and strengthening productive mathematical identities so that students will believe the effort in learning mathematics pays off. Her project has the potential to improve kindergarten to third grade mathematics education for students from persistently marginalized groups. Her research has been published in a variety of prestigious math education and STEM education journals.

Cynthia Barajas,  B.A. in Psychology Class of 2012, is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Alumni Award from the Teaching and Learning Department. The award recognizes her leadership and impact through SMU’s Alternative Teacher Preparation Program in partnership with Teach for America (TFA). She currently serves as Senior Managing Director of Partnerships for TFA Dallas-Fort Worth.

She has overseen the certification and onboarding of hundreds of TFA corps members, improved certification rates for underrepresented groups, and strengthened district partnerships. Her leadership has helped expand SMU’s partnership with Teach for America across Texas, supporting thousands of aspiring teachers and addressing the state’s teacher shortage.

Simmons 2025 Outstanding Student Awards

Exceptional scholar leaders were celebrated at the annual Simmons Outstanding Alumni and Student Awards Ceremony on May 15.

The exemplary students were honored at a reception and dinner in Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall. They were each presented with their awards by Dean Stephanie Knight and their Department Chairs.

Ellie LewisEllie Lewis received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Health Management from Applied Physiology and Sport Management. She is described by faculty as a driven scholar, dedicated SMU rowing athlete, and natural leader. As president of the Applied Physiology Club and a multi-semester Anatomy Teaching Assistant, she became a trusted mentor to her peers. Ellie has also completed prestigious internships at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical School demonstrating her strong commitment to academic excellence and professional growth.

Sonja Mugnier is the Counseling Department’s outstanding student. Sonja is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Counseling with concentration in children and adolescents. She is the President of the SMU Department of Counseling Play Therapy Association, Co-Chair of the Mentorship Committee and Secretary for Chi Sigma Iota, Sigma Mu, and is also active in the state and national professional counseling organizations. Her internship involved providing counseling and play therapy services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County. Upon graduation she plans to pursue the Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist credentials, and her long-term career goals are to pursue a doctorate in counselor education.

Tim LinleyTim Linley received his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. His professors in Education Policy & Leadership describe him as an outstanding scholar and educational leader. They say his intellectual curiosity and thoughtful insights set him apart and make him an exceptional student. Beyond the classroom, Tim took a bold step in founding a company, Cadenza Strategy Group, to provide strategic data management services tailored specifically to fine arts educators. He hopes that with what he has learned at SMU and through his company he will make a strong impact, both locally and at state-wide levels.

Isaac PearsonIsaac Pearson, a member of the SMU Mustangs football team, received his Master of Liberal Studies with a concentration in Organizational Dynamics in the Department of Human Centered Interdisciplinary Studies. A talented athlete, Isaac came to SMU Football from Australia. His faculty advisors say he brings a human-centered perspective to even the most difficult class discussions on complex societal issues. They describe him as a model student-athlete with a thoughtful and balanced countenance. Isaac received his coaching certificate and has been nominated to the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs National Honor Society.

Maricela LeónMaricela León  was named the outstanding student in the  Simmons Ph.D. program and graduates with a Doctor of Philosophy. Her faculty advisors say her research speaks for itself in that she already has five publications, including one first-authored journal article and four co-authored pieces. Aside from that impressive publication record, she authored three dissertation papers she just defended. Maricela is described as an amazing researcher, collaborator, a talented and hardworking educator, a role model to her peers, and a rising star in bilingual education. She will join the University of Texas at Arlington in the Fall as an Assistant Professor of Bilingual STEM Education.

Hannah GalbreathHannah Galbreath was named the Outstanding Student of the Year in the Department of Teaching & Learning. Faculty advisors say Hannah consistently demonstrated leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to excellence by submitting high-quality work ahead of deadlines, always engaging, and posing  thought-provoking questions in class. Hannah’s dedication to implementing research-based science teaching practices and her thoughtful approach to understanding teacher education pathways have made a significant impact on her peers and instructors alike. Hannah now prepares to begin her Ph.D. at SMU and hopes to continue to make meaningful contributions to the field of science education.

 

Celebrating the SMU-Simmons partnership, students and faculty gather for the Simmons Outstanding Alumni and Student Awards ceremony. Left to right: Isaac Pearson, Maricela León, Sonja Mugnier, Hannah Galbreath, Tim Linley.
Left to right: Isaac Pearson, Maricela León, Sonja Mugnier, Hannah Galbreath, Tim Linley.

SMU/Simmons and TCU offer Ph.D. Student Conference on the Doctoral Journey

Dean-Knight-and-Dean-Petrosino and PhD StudentsMarc Sager, PhD candidate at SMU/Simmons, and Leslie Epke, PhD candidate at TCU, developed a 1-day conference (Sept. 30) in which their respective Schools’ PhD students explored the demands and pleasures of the doctoral journey. Presentations included developing a research agenda, presenting and publishing, the faulty search process, stress management, and community involvement in research. Speakers and presenters from Simmons included Dean Knight, Marc Sager, Damion Davis, and Elizabeth Adams.

Session Speaker Topic Description
Welcome Dean Knight (SMU) and Dean Hernandez (TCU)
Session 1 Dr. Taryn Ozuna Allen (TCU) Developing a Research Agenda as an Emerging Scholar Creating a research agenda, regardless of theoretical interests, methodological preferences, or career goals.
Session 2 Marc Sager (SMU) Publishing and Presenting at Conferences The processes of presenting at conferences and publishing.
Session 3 Dr. Pablo Montes (TCU) On the Market: Life Outside of Graduate School Becoming a professor:  job search strategies and making yourself marketable.
Session 4 Leslie Epke (TCU) Journal Session Reflect and process what was covered at the conference.
Session 5 Dr. Damion Davis (SMU) Mental Health Practices for Graduate Students A counseling professional discusses stress management skills
Session 6 Dr. Elizabeth Adams (SMU) Community Involvement: Bringing Theory to Practice Learn about the West Dallas STEM School RPP and how research is bridged into practice.
Closing Dean Knight (SMU) and Dean Hernandez (TCU)

Carrolton Leader Profiles Doctoral Student Josue Romero

Josue Romero, a doctoral student in Education Leadership, is featured in a Q&A profile by the Carrolton Leader.  He also serves as principal at McLaughlin Strickland Elementary School in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District.

Romero is a first-generation college graduate. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from The University of Texas Arlington.

Read his profile here.

SMU Simmons, UT Austin, and University of Missouri Collaborate to Support Ph.D. Candidates Focusing on Mathematics in Learning Disabilities

LIME (Leaders Investigating Mathematics Evidence) is a project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs to create the next generation of researchers and leaders with Ph.D.s in special education with a focus on mathematics. It will provide tuition and stipend support, travel to conferences, and research support for twelve scholars for four years of doctoral studies. The program will be hosted at three universities: University of Texas, Austin; Southern Methodist University; and the University of Missouri.

Sarah Powell, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Special Education at UT Austin, co-authored the grant along with Leanne Ketterlin-Geller, Ph.D., Simmons professor in the Department of Education Policy & Leadership at SMU, and Erica Lembke, Ph.D., professor in the College of Education at the University of Missouri. Additional team members from SMU Simmons include professors Amy Rouse and Annie Wilhelm, Department of Teaching and Learning.

Read more.

 

 

Ph.D. Student Robyn Pinilla to Participate in 2021 Clinton Global Initiative University

Robyn Pinilla, a Simmons doctoral student working in early mathematics, has been selected to join the  Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) 2021.

This program involves a commitment to action to address a specific challenge with a defined course of action and detailed objectives.

Pinilla will be working on a process to develop community-based STEM programming for young children, their families, and teachers in Dallas areas of need.

SMU provides funding to its selected students for getting their projects started and attending the annual CGI U meeting, which will be held at Howard University March 23-26. Graduation is in November.

“This exciting opportunity to work with the Clinton Foundation to collaborate with scholars and entrepreneurs from around the world reinforces the leadership and partnership ideals of SMU’s commitment to world-changing transformation,” she says.

 

 

Ph.D. Student Mark Pierce Receives Maguire Public Service Fellowship

This summer, Simmons Ph.D. candidate Mark Pierce joins nine other SMU students in serving as a  Maguire Public Service Fellow, to work on research and programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His project focuses on researching adaptable models of distance learning that can be implemented for highly mobile students by collecting data from Dallas area family shelters and children’s support organizations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Pierce will receive a $2400 stipend and present his findings at a public seminar in the fall. His doctoral advisor is Assistant Professor Alexandra Pavlakis in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership.

Over the past 20 years, the Maguire Center has awarded summer fellowship stipends totaling over $400,000 to 181 SMU students, including volunteers in more than 150 agencies across 18 states, 25 countries, and five continents.

American College of Sports Medicine Awards Research Grant to Doctoral Student Claire Trotter

Claire Trotter, a second year Ph.D. student in the Department of Applied Physiology and Wellness, received a $5000 National ACSM Doctoral Research Grant from the American College of Sports Medicine Foundation.

The grant will help fund her dissertation research investigating central nervous system dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by degeneration of brain cells which alters their normal signaling patterns. Her goal is to quantify the alterations made to these signaling patterns to help aid in the more successful treatment of the disease.

Nearly 1 million US citizens are thought to be living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite diagnosis being on the rise, there is still a lack of mechanistic understanding of the disease.

Trotter works in the Integrative Physiology Laboratory under the direction of her Ph.D. mentor, Associate Professor Scott Davis. As an SMU senior undergraduate in 2016, she worked as a research assistant in Davis’ lab. After graduation she pursued a Master Degree in Biology from University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, and returned to SMU for her Ph.D. because of her undergraduate experience. “I was drawn to return to SMU because of the quality mentorship I had previously and the high level scientific investigation, ” she says.

The grant funder, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), advances and integrates scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.  The ACSM Foundation receives, administers and disburses funds to support the College’s educational, scientific and charitable purposes.

 

 

SMU’s Research Day Yields Prizes for Simmons Students

16045971793_7146009a68_z
Jillian Conry, Paul Polanco, Vivianne Mogna, and Madhuri Bhupathi present work on Project ELVA (English Learner Vocabulary Acquisition), research funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and headed up by Dr. Doris Baker, principal investigator.
16479761379_80514211fb_z
Mu Huang discusses research on thermoregulatory dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

A group of Simmons graduate students presented their work during SMU’s Research Day 2015, with the following winning the Dean’s Award:

Dustin Allen in Aplied Physiology and Wellness for “The Effect of Multiple Sclerosis on Carotid Baroflex Control of the Heart Rate and Blood Pressure.”  Dr. Scott Davis is the advisor.

Mu Huang in Applied Physiology and Wellness for “Thermoregulatory Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during Moderate Exercise in a Thermoneutral Environment.” Dr. Scott Davis is the advisor.

Jillian Conry, Paul Polanco, Vivianne Mogna, and Madhuri Bhupathi in Teaching and Learning for “Project Elva,” English Language Vocabulary Acquisition. Dr. Doris Baker is the advisor and principal investigator.

Congratulations to them for recognition by the University.