We are pleased to announce the Teachers College Alumni Award recipients for 2023. This year’s impressive list of nominations included visionary leaders from all areas of expertise who exemplify TC’s commitment to changing the world.
Six changemakers rose to the top of the list, and we are proud to share their names with you today.
For a list of alumni award recipients before 2023, visit the archive here.
Researcher, practitioner, and prolific author, Dr. Bensimon is committed to advancing racial equity and opportunities for historically marginalized populations in American higher education. Through critical illumination of blind spots in educational policymakers’ and practitioners’ thinking, and invention of research-guided interventions, she has continually sought to turn her research into tools and models for thinking and acting, towards enhanced equity.
TC Faculty Emerita Dr. Boehm has focused on the importance of the early childhood years in the discipline of School Psychology. Her groundbreaking research led to the identification of basic relational concepts (e.g., same, least, left) as critical vocabulary used in virtually all classroom instruction and test directions. She created the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts (the first assessment of its kind) to measure knowledge of these relational concepts which, if lacking, impacts the learning of students from all backgrounds and can be particularly challenging for those with special needs.
Addressing the bridge between cultural responsiveness and dysphagia practice through his clinical practice, teaching, research and writing, Dr. Riquelme also emphasizes the importance of reducing bias in the practice of medical speech-language pathology by encouraging all healthcare providers to recognize a patient’s multiplicity of cultures and the influence this has on their overall health outcomes. He focuses on promoting best practices in the management of dysphagia nationally and internationally.
A twenty-year teacher, teacher educator, and researcher, Dr. Fagan’s work through the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) field fosters inclusivity in the classroom and beyond, touching lives around the country and the world.
Exploring the role of Hip Hop texts in fostering students’ socio-political awareness, Dr. Kelly identified intersections of race, class, gender, and power in society. Her scholarship has grounded research and practice in Black feminist theories, particularly on Black girls’ literacy development through critical approaches to Hip Hop pedagogies.
Dr. Boultbee's tenure at Teachers College began in 1989 as a student and part-time employee in the International Student Office. Her career path eventually led to her serving as the Director of International Services from 2001-2009. After retiring, she became an active member of the Alumni Council, and President from 2017-2019. Her dedication to TC is palpable, and she can often be found on campus volunteering for student and alumni events.