Every Graduate Has a Story to Tell
Dr. Rachel Cason, who found a home and a purpose in American University's Doctorate of Education Program
When she first set foot on American University's campus as a young girl attending a leadership camp, she couldn't have known that years later, she would return to earn her doctorate. But for this recent Doctorate of Education (EdD) graduate, American University has been a recurring touchpoint throughout her life's journey—from volleyball camp in high school to a college internship with AU's Community and Social Change program, and finally, to the culmination of her educational path.
Patrick Doyle, BA, Graduates Ready to Shape Young Minds
Patrick Doyle exemplifies the passion, dedication, and community-minded spirit that American University strives to foster in its graduates. An undergraduate with a double major in secondary education and history, prior to graduation, Doyle secured a position as a 6th-grade history teacher at Brookland Middle School in Washington, DC.
Dr. Pamela Higgins Harris, CAS/BA ’72, MEd ’73, SOE/EdD ’25, shows that "learning is not restricted by age."
More than 50 years after she earned her master’s degree from American University, Pamela Higgins Harris, CAS/BA ’72, MEd ’73, SOE/EdD ’25, was back on the stage at Bender Arena during the 149th commencement, May 10. Her doctoral hooding at age 75 marked the completion of an incredible trifecta for the lifelong educator and activist.
Dr. Brianna Nargiso-Newton will use her doctorate of education degree to dismantle barriers
When Brianna Nargiso-Newton, EdD ’25, began searching for doctoral programs in educational leadership, she wasn't just looking for credentials—she was seeking a program that would align with her core values and equip her with tools to create meaningful change in education. In American University's Doctorate in Education in Education Policy and Leadership program, she found exactly that: a community committed to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering equity in education.
Robin Wrobleski, MAT, came from a small town in Pensylvania to become an expert teacher.
Robin Wrobleski knew that attending American University would be a significant achievement for a first-generation college student from a small Pennsylvania town. This May, he'll graduate with his Master of Arts in Teaching: Secondary Education, while already putting his education to work as a social studies teacher at Woodbridge High School in Virginia.