Alumni – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

2025 IRT Cohort News

Congratulations to the 2025 Cohort! These scholars join the more than 3,000 IRT Alumni who continue to affect education through their work. The next chapter in their academic journey is about to begin, and we are excited to see their impact in the years ahead.

2025 IRT Cohort Matriculation Highlights

The top graduate fields of study include African American Studies, Education, Educational Psychology, English, History, Literature, History and Sociology.

71% of students reported matriculating to graduate programs
15% of students reported acceptance to four or more programs
57% of students reported receiving partial-to-full funding
41% of students reported receiving full funding

Executive Director Letter, January 2026

“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” — MLK “The Purpose of Education,” 1947

Happy New Year, IRT Community!

As we head into the depths of winter, the IRT staff is hard at work supporting our scholars. This fall was a difficult one, as many scholars navigated program changes and ultimately submitted their applications. We are continually grateful for our broader IRT community – our Consortium partners, alumni who advise scholars through SOP advising, and friends of the program who support our work. Our Scholars worked to complete their applications by the December 15 deadline, and many are now hearing back about interviews. We are proud of all our scholars for embarking on this process during such a difficult time.

Associate Director & Manager of Programs Update, June 2025

NCORE, Hope, and the Power of Collective Action at IRT

The recent NCORE conference in New York City was abuzz with keynotes, workshops, and conversations about hope and possibility in our ever-evolving educational landscape. But what truly resonated with me wasn’t just the aspirational talk; it was the tangible, on-the-ground manifestations of these ideals. We engaged in courageous intergenerational and cross-college conversations, actively building coalitions and fostering collective action.

This got me thinking: what does hope and possibility look like in real time for us at IRT?