2025 Education Distinguished Alumni honored

Every two years, the Purdue University College of Education recognizes notable professional achievements of college alumni selected by the college leadership. This year the College honored two alumni at its 2025 Education Appreciation and Alumni Awards ceremony on Friday (Oct. 3).

Nate Albin, a senior majoring in social studies education, kicked off the event by welcoming guests and awardees. “I have been fortunate to be surrounded by individuals who care deeply about education. From the faculty and staff to the cohort of students around me, everyone in Purdue’s College of Education is committed to helping each other grow,” Albin said. “Every step of the way, I have constantly felt pushed to bring my best so that I can, one day, be a great educator like the teachers I have had before, as well as the ones I have now.”

Albin introduced Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College, who gave College updates and praised Purdue education students.

“Purdue’s College of Education is now home to nearly 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students – with an additional 300 teacher education students housed across our five [Purdue] partner Colleges,” VanFossen said. “We have 170 dedicated faculty, instructors, and staff who work to support more than 20 licensure programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.”

VanFossen also thanked the College’s supporters, who enabled the College in 2024-25 to award nearly $140,000 from donor-funded scholarships to 104 Education students, and to award more than $20,000 to nearly 40 of the College’s graduate students for travel expenses to attend and present at conferences. Additionally, donors have given six named or distinguished faculty positions to the College, including VanFossen’s position as the James F. Ackerman Distinguished Professor of Social Studies Education.

“It is truly a pleasure to recognize our loyal benefactors as well as celebrate two individuals whose achievements and accomplishments represent the best of what we hope for in all our graduates,” he said.

Following dinner, VanFossen introduced the awards and awardees. He thanked the College of Education Alumni Engagement Board (EAEB) for selecting the award winners, and thanked Erin Perdue, alumni engagement officer at the Purdue for Life Foundation and organizer of the EAEB, for the ceremony and dinner.

VanFossen then presented the two alumni awards.

“For the first time, the College of Education is proud to present the newly developed Early Career Alumni Award, which recognizes the outstanding professional achievements of our alumni within the first ten years of their careers,” VanFossen said, noting that the EAEB had suggested creating this award.

VanFossen presented the Early Career Award to alumnus Razak Dwomoh, (PhD Curriculum & Instruction ’23). Dwomoh is an assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Northern Illinois University, where he teaches social studies methods, middle school organization and instruction, and classroom management courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Next, VanFossen presented the Distinguished Education Alumni Award to alumna Melissa Stormont, a triple graduate of Purdue (BS Psychology ’89, MS Education ’90, and PhD Special Education ’93). Stormont is currently the Director of the Boone County Early Childhood Coalition and the project director for a $2 million Institute of Education Sciences development grant. Her overall research areas include prevention science, early childhood risk factors, and the use of evidence-based practices for supporting social, emotional, and mental health development in children.

“The Distinguished Education Alumni Award is the highest award for our alumni and honors their notable career and life achievements that reflect favorably on Purdue University, education, or society in general,” VanFossen said.

VanFossen led family, friends, and colleagues in applauding the awardees.

“Thank you to all of you for your loyal support of Purdue’s College of Education,” Albin said. “Because of your support and your passion for education, Purdue has been an incredible place to learn and to grow, and I’m so grateful that I found my home here.”

Sources: Erin Perdue