For 11 years, DFI has supported 199 educator-preparation leaders through our Impact Academy fellowship. At the end of their fellowship, fellows are invited to join our Leadership Collaborative, an alumni network offering continued opportunities to connect and learn.
Our fellows come from a breadth of geographic and institutional contexts. Leaders represent public, private, and non-traditional educator-preparation programs.
2026 Impact Academy Fellows
Angela McDonald, Longwood University
Anika Burtin, University of the District of Columbia
Annette Hux, Arkansas State University
Brooke Burks, Tuskegee University
Cheryl Lambert, University of West Alabama
Christine Hardigree, Iona University
Cindy Martinez, Western New Mexico University
David Fuentes, Stockton University
Jamia Richmond, Coastal Carolina University
Jerre Snead, Rhode Island School for Progressive Education
John McConnell, Austin Peay State University
Kelly Chaney, Morningside University
Kevin Badgett, Sul Ross State University
Krista Jahn, Central Queens Academy Charter School
Kym Acuña, Wayne State College
Lisa Harrison, Ohio Universit
Malekah Salim-Morgan, Reach University
María Scharrón del Río, The City University of New York
Marius Boboc, University of Missouri–St. Louis
Mary Olvera, North Carolina Community College System
Rebecca Saiz, Lone Star College
Shawn Daley, George Fox University
Tarsha Reid, Harris-Stowe State University
Tonya Rose, Southern University at New Orleans
2025 Impact Academy Fellows
Carmen Dixon, Capital University
Carol Cummings, Rhode Island College
Charlotte White-Wright, Henderson State University
Cristian Ruiz, TeachStart
Cullen Johnson, Memphis Teacher Residency
Daniel McMasters, University of Tennessee Southern
Douglas Cost, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Emily Jackson-Osagie, Southern University and A&M College
Emma Savage-Davis, Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Jennifer Seybert, University of Texas at the Permian Basin
Laura Saylor, Mount St. Joseph University
Lesley Leach, Tarleton State University
Lorrie Webb, Texas A&M University, Central Texas
Neporcha Cone, Middle Tennessee State University
Peter Eley, Alabama A&M University
Teresa Taber Doughty, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Tonya Chacon, University of Bridgeport
Tywanda Jiles, Prairie State College
2024 Impact Academy Fellows
Aaron Kuntz, Florida International University
Alexis Esslinger, Cooperative Educational Services
Amy Smith, University of St. Thomas
Aubrey Schabowsky, College Unbound
Beth Nason Quick, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Denelle Wallace-Alexander, Norfolk State University
Derrick Smith, Auburn University at Montgomery
Kimberley Davis, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Laura Dinehart, Western Michigan University
LaVada Taylor, Chicago State University
Lourdes Sutton, New Jersey City University
Marisa Bier, Seattle Teacher Residency (Alliance for Education)
Mark McDermott, University of Iowa
Nelly Lejter, Touro University
Sarah Hunt-Barron, Lander University
Thomas Owenby, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tiffany Labrie, YES Prep Public Schools
2023 Impact Academy Fellows
Andy Saultz, Pacific University
Anne Lamb, St. Louis Teacher Residency
Austin Moag, Relay Graduate School of Education
Barbara Tucker, Sul Ross State University
Beth Greene Costner, Winthrop University
Clifton Tanabe, University of Texas at El Paso
Debbie G. Thomas, Grambling State University
Elizabeth Dinkins, Bellarmine University
James P. McIntyre, Jr., Belmont University
James Meadows, Washington Education Association
Joellen Maples, St. John Fisher University
Judy A. Abbott, Stephen F. Austin State University
Kimberly Eckert, Reach University
Lana Collet-Klingenberg, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
LaTonya Turner, Marian University
Laura Spenceley, SUNY Oswego
Matt Cheek, Nashville Teacher Residency
Michael P. O’Malley, Texas State University
Robert Q. Berry, III, University of Arizona
Roxanne Greitz Miller, Chapman University
Ryan Evely Gildersleeve, Eastern Michigan University
Shayna Sullivan, Alder Graduate School of Education
Victoria Theisen-Homer, Northern Arizona University
Yune Tran, Providence College
2022 Impact Academy Fellows
Sara DeLano, Dallas College
Jason Barr, Rider University
Afra Hersi, Loyola University Maryland
Jerell Hill, Pacific Oaks College
William (Bill) Gaudelli, Lehigh University
Pervis Evans, Odessa College
Pete Kelly, University of Mary Washington
April L. Fleming, Florida SouthWestern State College
Amy Ginsberg, William Paterson University
Hansel Burley, University of New Mexico
Christopher Joyce, Louisiana Resource Center for Educators
Jeffrey L. Kirk, Texas A&M University – Central Texas
Joan Y. Pedro, University of Houston – Clear Lake
Gary Ritter, Saint Louis University
Elle Rodriguez, Relay Graduate School of Education
Brenda Sabey, Utah Tech University
Janna Scarborough, East Tennessee State University
Diana Turk, New York University
Judi Wilson, Augusta University
Ryan Wise, Drake University
2021 Impact Academy Fellows
Amy Vinlove, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Amy Holcombe, High Point University
Anne Gregory, Purdue University Northwest
April Bedford, Brooklyn College
Barbara Ridener, Kean University
Barbara Schwartz-Bechet, Misericordia College
Carol Ann Gittens, Saint Mary's College of California
Carolyn Theard-Griggs, Chicago State University
Chris Ward, Upper Valley Educators Institute
Cynthia Gardener, Maryville College
Danielle Dennis, University of Rhode Island
Dawn Shinew, Bowling Green State University
Jeannine Dingus-Eason, Rhode Island College
Kathlene Campbell, University of St. Thomas
Kip Kline, Lewis University
Leslie Cowell, Faulkner University
Loury Floyd, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
M Cecil Smith, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Nicholas Shudak, Wayne State College
Paula Price, North Carolina A&T State University
Robin Duncan, California Baptist University
Sarah Hartman, Wayland Baptist University
Scarlet Clouse, Angelo State University
Willis Walter, Virginia State University
2020 Impact Academy Fellows
Laurie Burgess, Cornerstone University
Sharen Cypress, Freed-Hardeman University
Kimberly Gaiters-White, Virginia Union University
Trenton Gould, The University of Southern Mississippi
Sheri Hardee, University of North Georgia
Christy Harris, Relay Graduate School of Education – Atlanta
Myra Lovett, University of Louisiana Monroe
Kimberly McLeod, Texas A&M University Commerce
Nancy Ruppert, University of North Carolina – Asheville
Valerie Rutledge, The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
Kimberly Rynearson, Tarleton State University
Mindy Sjoblom, Relay Graduate School of Education – Chicago
Denise Staudt, University of the Incarnate Word
Michelle Young, Loyola Marymount University
2019 Impact Academy Fellows
Stephen Atwater, University of Alaska Southeast
Paula Summers Calderon, Southeastern Louisiana University
Prentice T. Chandler, Austin Peay State University
Stacey Edmonson, Sam Houston State University
Deborah Erickson, Point Loma Nazarene University
Beth Foley, Utah State University
Penny Garcia, Eastern New Mexico University
Kim Hawkins, Carson-Newman University
Laurie Henry, Salisbury University
Lisa Huffman, Texas Woman’s University
Vessela Ilieva, Utah Valley University
Katie Cole Kinney, University of North Alabama
Peter Laipson, Woodrow Wilson Academy of Teaching and Learning
Nancy Marchand-Martella, Purdue University
Leah Nellis, Indiana University Kokomo
Jennifer Shewmaker, Abilene Christian University
Jabari Sims, Relay Graduate School of Education: Dallas-Forth Worth
Thea Williams-Black, Tougaloo College
Lisa Zagumny, Tennessee Technological University
2018 Impact Academy Fellows
Rachel Abbott, Georgia Southwestern State University
Jordan Barkley, Tarleton State University
Rob DeHaas, Dallas Teacher Residency
Katharine Delavan, Lake Erie College
Laurie Elish-Piper, Northern Illinois University
Alaina Harper, Relay Graduate School of Education
Virginia Padilla-Vigil, New Mexico Highlands University
Alma Rodriguez, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
J. Anthony Rolle, University of Rhode Island
Deanna Sands, Seattle University
Kimberly Walker McAlister, Northwestern State University
Andrew Wall, University of Redlands
Tamara Wallace, Radford University
2017 Impact Academy Fellows
Deborah Boyd, Lipscomb University
Donna Breault, Ashland University
Kenith Britt, Marian University
Ann Bullock, Elon University
Parker Fawson, Utah Valley University
John Gasko, University of North Texas at Dallas
Deirdre C. Greer, Columbus State University
Merrilou Harrison, Heritage University
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, American University
Gaetane Jean-Marie, University of Northern Iowa
Kyle Finke, Louisiana Resource Center for Educators
Andrea Lewis, Spelman College
Shelly Meyers, Limestone College
Sara Quay, Endicott College
Kim Winter, Western Carolina University
2016 Impact Academy Fellows
Andrea Kent, University of Southern Alabama
Ann Taylor, University of Missouri
Anthony Graham, North Carolina A&T State University
Damara Hightower, Benedict College
Don Schillinger, Louisiana Tech University
Ed Hill, Fort Valley State University
Michael Hillis, California Lutheran University
Paige Ware, Southern Methodist University
D. Ray Reutzel, University of Wyoming
Rob Muller, National Louis University
Thomas Philion, Roosevelt University
