Students & Alumni News

“Mr. Ryan’s coming! Mr. Ryan’s coming!’” That was the reaction from children at the University of Delaware Lab School whenever Ryan Eagan walked through the door. A doctoral candidate in climatology, Eagan had come to the school to teach the children about weather. Armed with non-contact thermometers, paper streamers, a …

“Can you see germs?” a researcher asked. “No, you can’t see germs!” the students shouted. Expanding on that idea, University of Delaware researchers introduced students at the Early Learning Center (ELC) to microrobots, tiny machines about one-hundredth to one-tenth the thickness of a human hair. This summer, the students got …

With the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, the University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is pleased to announce new leadership in its School of Education (SOE), Children’s Campus and Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC). School of Education On August 24, Christina Budde, …

In response to the needs of Delaware communities and beyond, the University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development will host a social work conference from 12 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 8, 2026, at Clayton Hall and Conference Center in Newark, Delaware. Titled “Cultures of Healing: Innovative Pathways …

As summer winds down, rising college freshmen across the country are trading familiar routines for new college campuses, classes and friend groups. While this time is often exciting for new students, the transition can also be challenging for students with disabilities, especially those who also identify as Black or trans. …

Driven to give back from a young age, native Delawareans and UD students Grace DiGiacomo and Lauria Tana-Dawson knew they wanted careers that made a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Through the University of Delaware, they found their path in the people-centered, mission-focused human services major. As part …

Growing up as the oldest sibling to a younger brother and sister shaped the way that University of Delaware Associate Professor Mellissa S. Gordon learned to communicate and cope with challenges. As a single parent, her mother often looked to Gordon to set an example and, over time, she found …

During a reading lesson, Mateo, an elementary multilingual learner (MLL) in a Delaware public school, read “sit” as “seat.” Jon Kittle, his reading interventionist, walked him through the short vowel sound, but Mateo made the same “mistake” and grew frustrated. Kittle began to wonder if these “errors” were actually the …

In a middle school math classroom, students often feel pressured to understand new concepts immediately and get the “answers” right on the first try. They may also be hesitant to share their thinking in front of classmates, especially when math is framed only with “right” and “wrong” solutions. With these …

When Max Orland graduated from high school in 2006, he faced a choice. He could enroll in a life skills program near his home in Westport, Connecticut, continue living with his parents, take classes exclusively with other students with disabilities and accept a job someone else chose for him. Instead, …