School of Education Celebrates the Class of 2025
Doctoral Cording Ceremony
On Friday, May 16, doctoral candidates gathered with Dean Robert C. Knoeppel and faculty to celebrate their achievements at the annual cording ceremony. Thirty-five students received degrees in Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership or Counselor Education and Supervision. As each student's name and dissertation title were announced, they were joined by their department chair and dissertation committee members while the chair bestowed a cord to be worn at graduation.
Stefan Vasic Ph.D. ’25 (Counselor Education), recipient of the School of Education Doctoral Award for Excellence, was chosen as the cording ceremony's student speaker. Vasic’s contributions have helped transform the field of Counselor Education by advancing research on moral injury, LGBTQ+
affirming counseling and systemic oppression in mental health diagnosis. A gifted educator and mentor, Vasic fosters inclusive, student-centered learning environments in his graduate courses and is deeply committed to developing future leaders through his mentorship of doctoral students and clinical interns.
Vasic delivered an inspirational speech, capturing the impact of community support along with the role of luck and chance throughout his educational journey. He emphasized that the role of a doctor comes with significant responsibility as well as the opportunity to produce meaningful change.
“Our responsibility and privilege as doctors is to conduct research that will have immense impact over time while simultaneously impacting the lives of students we interact with on a personal level,” he said.
Watch Doctoral Cording Ceremony
School of Education Graduation Celebration
On the morning of Saturday, May 17, the School of Education held its Graduation Celebration to recognize and honor its newest graduates. The event began with the traditional procession of faculty and students, led by two musicians from the Williamsburg Field Music Fifes and Drums. Excited graduates made their way into William & Mary’s Kaplan Arena, a new venue for the School of Education’s Graduation Celebration. The day was marked by encouragement, joy and heartfelt moments as proud friends and family members cheered from the stands.
Assistant Dean for Assessment, Accreditation and Accountability Jacob Joseph ’15 (Curriculum Leadership) was given the honor of ringing a replica of the School of Education bell to both open and close the ceremony. He is retiring after 15 years of service to William & Mary and the School of Education. During this time, he made a significant impact through his expertise, work ethic and leadership. As Assistant Dean, he introduced innovative tools supporting successful accreditation efforts and a culture of continuous improvement.
In his opening remarks, Dean Knoeppel expressed his admiration for the graduates’ commitment to the field. He assured graduates that their accomplishments are part of a greater mission fueled by the William & Mary School of Education’s commitment to advancing knowledge through impactful research. He also praised faculty for driving innovation in education and human development, and ensuring that graduates are equipped to lead meaningful change in schools, communities and beyond.
Dean Knoeppel reminded graduates that as they step into their professional roles, they carry the responsibility of upholding a democratic mission. He emphasized the importance of advancing justice, fostering inclusive excellence and expanding access to opportunity, ensuring that education remains a lived reality for all and that the promise of democracy is fulfilled for future generations.
During the ceremony, 38 students earned Master of Arts in Education degrees in the areas of Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, ESL and Bilingual Education, and Literacy Leadership. Twenty-one students were recognized with Master of Education degrees in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership, including both K-12 Administration and Higher Education Administration. One hundred fifty-eight students received Master of Education degrees in Counseling or School Psychology. Eleven students were recognized with Educational Specialist degrees in School Psychology. Thirty-five students earned Doctor of Education or Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Educational Leadership or Counselor Education. And, 15 students earned undergraduate degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education. In all, 278 students received education degrees.
Watch School of Education Graduation Celebration
Margaret, The Lady Thatcher, Award for Scholarship, Character and Service
Each year, this medallion award recognizes a graduate student who embodies the traits of scholarship, character and service within the School of Education community. The 2025 winner of the Thatcher Award is Tamika Jackson Ph.D. ’24 (Counselor Education).
According to her nominators, Jackson has exemplified the highest standards of scholarship, character and service throughout her doctoral journey at William & Mary. Her dissertation, which focused on the experiences of counseling graduate students with conservative Christian values, reflects both intellectual rigor and a profound commitment to inclusion. 
With advanced degrees in Divinity and Business Administration, Jackson brings a rich multidisciplinary perspective to her work in Counselor Education. Her scholarly contributions have already begun shaping the field, with publications in top-tier journals and a focus on the intersections of spirituality, cultural identity and trauma.
As noted by Associate Professor of School Psychology Janise Parker, “Dr. Jackson’s scholarship reflects a commendable commitment to creating supportive environments for all people … her courageous contribution to the mental health field is critical and groundbreaking.”
Jackson opened her speech with heartfelt gratitude, recognizing the many people who supported her along the way — her family, faculty mentors, the School of Education leadership team, her cohort and both past and present students. She used the metaphor of how pearls are formed, created by oysters in response to irritants, as a reflection of her own doctoral journey. Like an oyster, she faced persistent challenges and discomfort, but through resilience and perseverance, those struggles transformed into valuable lessons. Jackson shared three “pearls of wisdom”: practicing compassion; embracing congruence, or alignment between actions and values; and leading with courage. She closed by inviting her fellow graduates to take her “pearls” with them throughout their various career paths.
School of Education Awards for Excellence
Each year, three awards — one to an undergraduate, one to a master’s student and one to a doctoral student — are given in recognition of academic and professional excellence, as well as outstanding citizenship.
The undergraduate winner is Margaret Barr ’25, who graduated as a double major in Elementary Education and Psychological Sciences. Throughout her undergraduate career at William & Mary, Margaret has exemplified academic excellence and leadership. Clinical Instructor of Literacy Education Tammy Williams describes Margaret as “a shining example of academic excellence,” noting her ambition and determination. Since Margaret’s freshman year, she has collaborated on research, helping expand a research lab from two to seven undergraduate members. As the research progressed, she oversaw onboarding, the Institution Review Board process, and data collection — work on par with an advanced graduate student. Her efforts have led to presentations at national and state conferences, multiple publications and substantial internal funding.
Beyond academics, Margaret is deeply committed to the School of Education and K-12 education. She far exceeded the 20-hour fieldwork requirement, logging more than 140 hours at D.J. Montague Elementary School. She mentors prospective students and actively volunteers at community events.
The master’s/educational specialist winner is Hannah Dow ’23, M.Ed. ’25, who graduated with a degree in Higher Education Administration. Hannah demonstrates an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, equity-focused educational practice and community advocacy. In her nomination letter, Clinical Assistant Professor of Higher Education Chelsea Smith describes Hannah as a student who “exudes kindness, respect and humility coupled with grit and confidence.” Hannah supports her peers and students, respectively, inside and outside of the classroom, always championing students in the margins. 
As a first-generation student, Hannah’s academic journey is a testament to her perseverance and ambition. Her critical engagement with rigorous coursework, ability to bridge theory to practice, and leadership in research — including a master’s thesis rooted in systemic change within education — highlight her commitment to scholarly excellence. Her contributions to research have led to presentations at national conferences, further solidifying her impact on the School of Education’s Higher Education program.
Beyond her studies, Hannah has distinguished herself in several roles, including as a paraprofessional, graduate assistant, research associate and director of multiple student organizations.
As previously noted, the doctoral winner is Stefan Vasic Ph.D. ’25. Dean Knoeppel commented that his “unwavering commitment to scholarship, social justice and service exemplifies the highest standards in Counselor Education.”