Alumni Profiles

Learn more about the accomplishments of Graduate School of Education alumni and how our alumni are impacting their field, their community and the world.

“Working within university settings provides rich and valuable learning opportunities.”
6/30/26
Tanya Christ, PhD ’07
“I envision the center as a place where students don’t just come to get support, but they can come to us to be empowered, to be seen, to build community and to dream big. I see the center essentially as a hub of innovation around belonging and advocacy.”
6/30/26
Elle Collins, BA ’14, EdM ’16
“I did my business model on the idea of creating an outsource company that would facilitate the student-athlete feedback process.”
6/30/26
Jennifer Cross, BA '92, EdM '94

Michael Cross, BA '91, EdM '93
When asked how he chose to enroll in GSE’s Teacher Residency Program, Crump calls it, “Divine intervention. Serendipity.”
6/30/26
Gary Crump, CAS ’21
“Don’t be surprised if you’re not doing what you expected, and always be open to learning more.”
6/30/26
Liz Czarnecki, EdM ’94, BA ‘76
“The research component project was one of the highlights of my degree program.”
6/30/26
Nosisi Feza, PhD ’09
“Persistence embodies, for me, the number one value that a person needs in life. The challenges will always come ... You have to know what it is you’re working toward.”
6/30/26
Joelle Formato, EdM ’15
“I had a tremendous opportunity to learn from some of the best faculty.”
6/30/26
Paula Ganyard, MLS ’96
“I learned so much about research and writing about the field of sociology of education, and thinking about the data telling the story, as opposed to the story leading you to choose the data.”
6/30/26
Heather Jenkins, PhD ’11
“When you think of libraries, you think of literacy, but it’s about data-informed decision-making and how societal progress leads to changes in information seeking.”
6/30/26
Jelicia Jimenez, MS ’22
“I had the opportunity to publish and present with professors and counseling center staff.”
6/30/26
Merle Keitel, PhD ’87
“It’s all about having the right support around you. Anything is possible.”
6/30/26
Amanda Knapp, BS ’00, EdM ’03
“The adjustment isn’t just taking the uniform off and figuring out where you’re going to work. It’s a complete change and reassessment of your identity and who you are, and that’s something that doesn’t happen overnight.”
6/30/26
Emily Knitter, EdM ’22, PhD ’24
“It’s important for everybody to remember that technology itself will never replace an educator.”
6/30/26
Alie Kuitems, EdM ’09
“You don’t need to know exactly what you’re researching right away. Take your time to explore and refine your interests.”
6/30/26
Iman Lathan, PhD ’25
“I realized young kids have a more holistic approach to learning. Their learning is not really separated by subjects yet. Everything is learning by doing.”
6/30/26
Jennifer McDonel, PhD ’13
“I have always wanted to give back to my community and serve through education.”
6/30/26
Genelle Morris, EdD ’14
“One of the things that I appreciated about my experience at the University at Buffalo was the realization that becoming a librarian or an archivist isn’t just about organizing information—it is so much more.”
6/30/26
Gina Nortonsmith, MS ’19
“You’re going to have to overcome many, many things in your life, but how you do it develops you into who you will be.”
6/30/26
Brittany Patterson, PhD ’15
“These kids just experienced some of the worst moments of their lives, having to walk the Darien Gap, up through Mexico and then they were bused to Buffalo. That’s traumatic, and they felt disconnected from their culture.”
6/30/26
Breanna Pelonero, EdM ’22
“The strong preparation in professional ethics has served me well in my own work.”
6/30/26
Douglas Scheidt, PhD ’91
“Even if you end up in a special library or a smaller setting, you’re still serving a community. You still have your people.”
6/30/26
Kaitlyn Smith, MS ’14
“I cherish my work with students and being able to follow where those I worked with are now.”
6/30/26
Timothy Tryjankowski, EdM ’93
“Without the help and dedication of everybody, change would not be possible.”
6/30/26
Stephen Uebbing, EdD ’87
“I like to think that we have a personal impact when someone takes a tour with us.”
6/30/26
Michael Venturiello, EdM ’16
“My experiences lead me to become a teacher and work with kids and I love it.”
6/30/26
Rebecca Vujnovic, PhD ’10
“One of the things that I do all the time as a school psychologist is make sure the children who come into my office know how brilliant and special they are, no matter what.”
6/30/26
Desiree Williams, MA/AC ’15
“I learned the aspects and nuances of effective teaching.”
6/30/26
Jillian Wilsey, EdM ’10
“I don’t want these lessons I have learned to be locked away from those that really need it, given the kind of gatekeeping that can happen in the mental health field. I want to reach people directly and creatively.”
6/30/26
Dorian Withrow, MS ’25
“The LIFTS program helped me understand who I am as a leader.”
6/30/26
Casandra Wright, EdM ’03
“Never stop aspiring and inspiring; that is the power of education.”
6/30/26
Timothy Zgliczynski, PhD ’16