Celebration of Educators event honored alumni, Dean Pam Grossman

June 20, 2023
Dean Grossman stands in the middle of six smiling Education Alumni Award winners in front of a screen with the Penn GSE logo on it.

Above: Dean Grossman (center) presented Education Alumni Awards to (from left): Qian (Sylvia) He, GED’20; Noah D. Drezner, GED’04, GR’08; Lourdes M. DelRosso, GED’16; Joy Anderson Davis, C’96, GRD’17; Felecia E. Commodore, GR’15; and Daniel Rice, GED’20. Photo: HKB Photo.

A packed room of alumni and friends celebrated the achievements and impact of members of the Penn GSE community at the School’s annual Celebration of Educators event, held during Alumni Weekend at The Study on May 13.

The event, one of Pam Grossman’s final public engagements as dean, included a ceremony honoring this year’s six recipients of the Education Alumni Awards, recipients of Penn GSE’s annual awards, and a panel discussion celebrating the dean’s tenure. For the panel, Dean Grossman led a lively and wide-ranging conversation about Penn GSE, technology in the classroom, teacher professional development, and the current state of education with Associate Professor Abby Reisman; board member Patricia Grant, GED’01, GRD’04; and current Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program student Tamir Harper.


The Education Alumni Awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments made by members of our community across the field of education and around the globe. This year’s recipients were:

  • Educator of the Year: Joy Anderson Davis, C’96, GRD’17
  • Helen C. Baily Award: Daniel Rice, GED’20
  • Ethel and Allen “Buddy” Carruth Sustained Leadership in Education Award: Noah D. Drezner, GED’04, GR’08
  • Kwame Nkrumah Distinguished Alumni Award: Lourdes M. DelRosso, GED’16
  • William B. Castetter Alumni Award of Merit: Lawrence P. Ward, GRD’11
  • Recent Alumni/Early Career Award of Merit: Felecia E. Commodore, GR’15
  • Recent Alumni/Early Career Award of Merit: Qian (Sylvia) He, GED’20
The four panelists look at each other and smile while engaged in conversation, sitting in front of a Penn GSE banner.

The centerpiece of the Celebration of Educators was a panel discussion featuring (from left) Associate Professor Abby Reisman; board member Patricia Grant, GED’01, GRD’04; current Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program student Tamir Harper; and Dean Grossman. Photo: HKB Photo.

Other annual awards honored the contributions of current students, staff, and faculty, including:

  • William E. Arnold Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Student: Elizabeth Dunens, GR’23
  • Excellence in Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Mitali Temurnikar, GED’22, GED’23
  • Student Recognition of Service Award: Zhanar Beketova, GED’23
  • Student Recognition of Service Award: Mohamad Djodi Hardi Prajuri, GED’23
  • Staff Recognition of Service awards: Nicole Guerrero; Imani Harvin, GED’20; Laura Stern, GED’23
  • Excellence in Teaching Award: Alan R. Ruby
  • Laurie Wagman Award for Visual and Performing Arts in Education: Jacqueline Winsch, GR’26
  • Jolley Bruce Christman and Steven S. Goldberg Annual Award for Best Dissertation in Urban Education:Gordon Divine (Dee) Asaah, GR’21

Learn more about these exemplary Penn GSE community members at penng.se/coe23program.

Dean Grossman poses with the three smiling Penn GSE staffers who are holding their awards.

Staff Recognition of Service Award winners (from left) Nicole Guerrero; Imani Harvin, GED’20; Laura Stern, GED’23 with Dean Grossman (second from right). Photo: HKB Photo.

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