UVA School of Education & Human Development

11/05/2026

KINEcted 2026 was a success!

A huge thank you to our keynote speakers, Dr. Kori Hudson and Brian Douglas, MSc, as well as the event organizers, alumni, and partners from across UVA and beyond who made this event possible.

Together, they helped connect our University of Virginia Kinesiology students with a wide range of exciting career pathways in the growing health and wellness field.

Swipe through for a few highlights from an incredible event! 💙🧡

11/04/2026

Join us in congratulating alumna Elizabeth Daly, who was recently chosen as the Teacher of the Year for the 26-27 school year at Ridge Elementary School in Henrico County Public Schools, where she teaches 3rd grade.

Congratulations, Elizabeth! 👏

📷 Photo courtesy of Ridge Elementary School

11/02/2026

Political disagreements can put a strain on even our closest relationships.

Is it possible to navigate difficult conversations without losing our connections or compromising our values?

With midterm elections approaching, UVA political dialogue expert Rachel Wahl, author of the new book "Keeping Our Enemies Closer: Political Dialogue in Polarized Democracies," offers practical advice for talking across political divides.

Explore her insights on how to approach challenging conversations, stay connected, and engage with people whose views differ from our own: https://ow.ly/a9M05103243

10/30/2026

Happy Halloween from the School of Education and Human Development! 🎃👻

From Ms. Frizzle, Gru and the Minions, and Paul Bunyan to a “Pilot Study,” the Ghosts of EHD Students Past, the Queen of Hearts, and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model, our faculty and staff brought the creativity and Halloween spirit to this year’s costume competition!

Which costume gets your vote for the winner? Let us know in the comments!

Wishing everyone a safe, spooky, and spectacular Hooloween!

10/29/2026

Can talking across political divides make a difference?

In her new book, "Keeping Our Enemies Closer: Political Dialogue in Polarized Democracies," Professor Rachel Wahl explores her extensive research on conversations among people divided by some of the most contentious political and social issues in the U.S.

Wahl's research reminds us that dialogue is complex.

It may not eliminate our disagreements, and it may not even change another person’s mind while we are talking to them. What it can sometimes do is make it harder to reduce millions of people to a political label.

“Even if people are less eager to get together during periods of conflict, the seeds of understanding and relationship that are planted during other moments can sometimes survive,” she said.

Read more in Forbes:

Rachel Wahl argues that dialogue is far more complicated than merely bringing people with opposing views together in the same room.

10/29/2026

KINEcted 2026 was a success #! 🔥

Huge thanks to our keynote speakers, Dr. Kori Hudson and Brian Douglas, MSc, along with the event organizers, alumni, and partners from across UVA and beyond who helped connect our kinesiology students to a wide range of exciting career pathways in health and wellness.

10/28/2026

"Access is often what brings students here. But community is really what helps our online students thrive."

Associate Professor and award-winning educator Anne Jewett joined the EdLab podcast to share how she creates meaningful connections among students as coordinator of the online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program.

Listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts! https://ow.ly/IAmH5101NKF

10/26/2026

Literacy has the power to bring people together.

For 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Kimmell Joslin, that belief has shaped a remarkable career in education and literacy leadership.

Today, Kimmell leads the U.S. headquarters of One World One Family, a global humanitarian organization. She previously served as CEO of Beyond Literacy, Pennsylvania’s largest adult and family literacy organization.

During a recent visit to Grounds, Kimmell joined Professor Natasha Heny’s Languages and Literacies Across the Disciplines course to share her journey with current students. From teaching in Title I schools to securing multimillion-dollar grants as an award-winning CEO, Kimmell reflected on how her UVA School of Education and Human Development experience prepared her to lead with curiosity, confidence, and flexibility.

Reflecting on her visit, she shared:

“It made me realize that everything I needed to know to be an effective CEO, I really did learn here at EHD. I really credit UVA with any success I’ve been able to enjoy.”

🎉 Congratulations, Kimmell! Thank you for inspiring our students and demonstrating how an EHD education can make a lasting difference in communities near and far.

Read more about Kimmell and our 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award winners: https://ow.ly/IZHp510187G

10/23/2026

🎉 It’s National Transfer Student Week! If you know a student who has transferred to UVA, chances are you’re only a few degrees of separation from Quana Dennis.

Five years ago, Quana joined UVA as part of the inaugural cohort of Piedmont Scholars, a transfer student scholarship program. He quickly made his mark on Grounds, serving on student advisory councils, founding networking initiatives, and earning two degrees from the School of Education and Human Development.

Today, Quana is pursuing his doctorate at EHD and giving back to the program that helped launch his UVA journey by helping review applications and welcoming the next generation of transfer students.

“The Piedmont Scholarship opened so many doors I didn’t even know existed,” he said, “and gave me the confidence to walk through them.”

Read more about his full-circle journey: https://ow.ly/NRNi5100Hab