Alumni Accolades – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

Alumni Accolades, Fall 2026

Marta Holliday, IRT ’03
Marta was recently promoted to the rank of full professor at Alabama State University. Marta was first hired in 2011 and received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2017.

“Thank you to the IRT for your continued support of me, from my graduate school application process in 2003, to my journey to my PhD from the University of Iowa, to the job search and tenure application process and now to my journey to becoming a full professor. I am especially indebted to the dedication of my IRT mentors Ms. Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 and Ms. Alexandra Cornelius, IRT ’91.”

Mayra Canizales Cruz, IRT ’07
Congratulations to Mayra an IRT and Donovan Urban Teaching Scholar alum who has been selected to participate in the Pahara Fellowship Program.

The program was founded in 2007 and their mission states: “Our mission is to strengthen and sustain values-driven leaders who are transforming public education so that every child is prepared to lead a free and fulfilling life.”

Mai Thai, IRT ’10
Mai was promoted to Associate Professor of Sociology at Occidental College. She also published a book, KID COPS, about U.S. policing and the American educational system, from the University of Chicago Press. Additional resources for teachers using the book in class can be found in the KID COPS Reading, Discussion, and Teaching Guide.

Congratulations! – ¡Felicitaciones! – Félicitations!

June is a busy month for academic achievements, and we are happy to highlight the accomplishments of IRT Alumni in this celebratory post.

Nicollette Mitchell, IRT ’20
PhD, Learning, Teaching & Diversity
Vanderbilt University

Christian Walkes, IRT ’17
PhD, Education
Harvard University

Walkes defended his dissertation titled Landscapes of Freedom: Black Educational Architects & Historical Geographies of African American School Grounds.

Emerson Mayorga, IRT ’25
MA, Journalism
University of Arizona

Alumni Accolades, June 2026

Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 and Savita Maharaj, IRT ’21
Leislie and Savita attended the play Lifted by Mfoniso Udofia, a graduate of Wellesley College, who has written the UFOT Family Cycle of 9 plays in May 2026 at the Wellesley College Alumnae Hall Auditorium. Lifted addresses Toyima Ufot’s path in academia, which was constructed upon her father’s previous academic research. When she is accused of plagiarism, she travels to Nigeria to uncover her familial history and to find healing. This play spoke to Savita and Leislie deeply, and they will attend the next play titled In Old Age in late June.

Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 and Kevin Olusola
In mid-May, Leislie had the opportunity to reconnect with Kevin Olusola, Phillips Academy alum ’06 of Pentatonix fame, who was a student Leislie mentored when he first came to Andover as an 11^th grader. Kevin and Leislie shared a commonality -they both lived in Kentucky; Leislie lived in Bowling Green, and Kevin grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky. Kevin performed at Andover’s Cochran Chapel, sharing his unique style of beatboxing and cello musicianship, performing pieces from his new album titled Dawn of a Misfit.

(L-R) Kevin Olusola, Pat Davison, a former Phillips Academy colleague, and Leislie Godo-Solo

Aroutis Foster, IRT ’02
Foster was named Dean of the Baker School of Education at American University. Congratulations!

Photo Request!

Alumni Accolades, March 2026

Ben Vinson III, IRT ’92
Dr. Vinson was named a Harvard Hutchins Center fellow at the Afro-Latin American Research Institute. Congratulations!

Stephen Zrike, IRT ’01
Congratulations to Dr. Zrike, who was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey as Secretary of Education. Read the official press release on this appointment.

Karina Fernández Montilla, IRT ’06
Karina received the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Award by the ACE Women’s Network in Massachusetts. The award honors a champion of change whose vision and contributions are focused on changing structural systems for the advancement of women in Massachusetts colleges and universities. Read more about the award and Karina’s work.

Karina also received a staff recognition award at the Black History Month Showcase that recognizes staff and faculty at Hampshire College who often work behind the scenes without enough appreciation. Congratulations!

I am honored to have been nominated and to be recognized alongside colleagues who are so dedicated to supporting transformative educational spaces like Hampshire College.

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