Alumni Overview

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

No matter where we work – in schools, hospitals, colleges, nonprofits or elsewhere – graduates of the University of Houston College of Education are bound by our commitment to serving the community. Since the College was established in 1942, we count more than 35,100 alumni among us. On behalf of the College of Education Alumni Board, we invite you to stay involved and continue supporting your fellow Coogs. You are the pride!

Alumni Board

The College of Education Alumni Board serves as the governing body of the College’s Alumni Association. The association’s role includes:

promoting the interests of the College of Education and the University of Houston;
directing activities to foster the natural bond among alumni; and
encouraging alumni to support the College.

If you’re interested in getting involved and participating in activities such as networking, tailgating, mentoring, outreach and young alumni events, please email coealum@central.uh.edu. Include your name, preferred email address, graduation year(s) and your current/most recent employer and job title.

Learn more about the board

Alumni Spotlight

Alumni News Roundup

M.Ed. Training Helped Surgical Educator
Dr. Karen Dickinson teamed up with Clinical Associate Professor Susie Gronseth to publish an article in the Journal of Surgical Education.
Empowering Underserved Youths
Lauren Harris’s dedication to improving lives through collective action has earned her the College’s 2020 Rising Star Award.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Cheryl McCallum’s leadership and creativity have earned her a 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from the College.
Pushing for Educational Equity
Julie Fernandez has been named dean of the College of Education at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina.
First Year Teachers Adapt
Three spring graduates overcome obstacles to inspire a new generation.
Alum Adapts to COVID-19 Challenges
John Smith, finds creative solutions for students and academic advisors.
Alumnus Gives ‘Every Student a Chance’
Darryl Henson will reinvigorate his students as new Superintendent of Marlin ISD.
Literacy for Life
As president and CEO of Neuhaus Education Center, Tracy Weeden is working to improve reading skills among children and adults.

STAY IN TOUCH

Please send alumni news, job updates, accolades and story ideas to coealum@central.uh.edu for possible publication in Alumni Connect, the College of Education’s e-newsletter.

Alumni "Star Award" Winners

2018 Distinguished Alum: Anette Edens
Edens is a licensed psychologist in Houston with more than two decades of experience. A specialist in helping families dealing with adolescent substance abuse, she authored "From Monsters to Miracles: Parent-Driven Recovery Tools That Work" and previously founded a sober high school. Edens has three degrees from UH - an M.B.A. (’77), an M.Ed. in counseling psychology (’89) and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology (’94).
2018 Distinguished Alum: Rebecca Sanford
Sanford has more than two decades of experience as a public school educator. She serves as principal of Aldine ISD's Hambrick Middle School and as a member of the UH Charter School board. Sanford has an M.Ed. in educational psychology (’96) and an Ed.D. in educational psychology with a specialization in special education (’00). She was the first-African American woman to graduate from the doctoral program in special education.
2018 Distinguished Alum: Scott Van Beck
Van Beck served as executive director of the nonprofit Houston A+ Challenge for more than a decade, after working for 20-plus years in Houston ISD. He began his career as a middle school teacher, then served as a principal and regional superintendent. As principal of Revere Middle School, he was named Region IV Middle School Principal of the Year. Van Beck has an Ed.D. in administration and supervision ('11) from the College.
2017 Rising Star: Emily Voelkel
Voelkel, who earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the College of Education in 2014, works as a staff psychologist in the PTSD Clinic at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. She also has a faculty appointment as an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Voelkel has served as chair of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students and in that role was a member of the APA Council of Representatives, the association’s governing body.
2017 Distinguished Alum: Eloise Blair
Blair, who earned a bachelor’s in education from UH, has worked in four Texas school districts during her six-decade career. As debate coach at Houston ISD’s Lamar High School, Blair restored the program to national prominence. She won the 2016 Secondary Educator of the Year Award from the Texas Speech Communication Association. She has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for both the National Speech and Debate Association and the Texas Forensic Association.
2017 Distinguished Alum: Charles Cook
Cook, who earned an Ed.D. in higher education administration from UH, has served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Austin Community College since August 2014. For 15 years prior, he served as vice chancellor for academic affairs for the Houston Community College System and led efforts to more than triple the number of graduates and completers. He previously worked for the Community and Technical Colleges Division of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.