MenuSearchA-ZSeven Schools One University

Menu

Close Menu
Info For
Resources
Seven Schools One University

A–Z

Close Menu

Future Educators Academy

Program Status: Retired

Program Update

The Future Educators Academy (FEA), an educational development program for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), funded by the Provost’s Office and facilitated by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), will be retired at the end of the 2025-2026  academic year.

This page is maintained to document the program’s purpose, impact, and legacy, and to direct students and faculty to current teaching development opportunities at UMB.

About the Future Educators Academy (2020–2026)

The Future Educators Academy (FEA) was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to support faculty transitioning to emergency remote instruction and to prepare graduate students for future roles in teaching and academia. Over time, the program evolved into a highly regarded graduate teaching assistantship model that emphasized instructional design, evidence-based teaching practices, and faculty mentorship.

Through the FEA, graduate teaching assistants partnered with faculty mentors to support educationally focused work across UMB, including teaching, facilitating laboratory and discussion sessions, grading and assessment, curriculum review, and the development of instructional materials. In parallel, GTAs engaged in structured mentorship with FCTL staff, focusing on instructional design, developing teaching philosophies, and preparing for academic careers.

Program Impact and Participation

Over its lifespan, the Future Educators Academy supported graduate teaching development at UMB through instructional, research, and mentorship-focused assistantships.

  • 39 graduate assistantships appointed (2020–2026)
    • 36 Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
    • 2 Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants (GRTAs)
    • 1 Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
  • Participant academic levels
    • 24 doctoral students
    • 6 doctoral candidates
    • 9 master’s students
  • Institutional Reach and Engagement
    • 29 faculty mentors supported graduate assistantships
    • 13 distinct graduate and professional programs were represented
    • 6 of UMB’s seven schools participated

Appointment History

The Future Educators Academy appointed graduate assistants annually across multiple academic years. The sections below summarize appointments by academic year, including graduate assistant roles, degree programs, and faculty mentors.

In the 2025–2026 academic year, seven graduate students were appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants (GRTAs). These students represent programs in Biomedical Sciences, Medical Science, Social Work, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dentistry, and Nursing, and will be mentored by six faculty members and one staff member across six schools at UMB.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)

  • Yasaman Abbasi: a doctoral student in the Biomedical Sciences, PhD program at the School of Dentistry (SOD) under the mentorship of Dr. Man-Kyo Ching.
  • Katherin Dudek: a doctoral student in the Physical and Rehab Science, PhD program at the School of Medicine (SOM) under the mentorship of Dr. Kelly Westlake.
  • Lucy Fromtling: a doctoral student in the Medical Science, DMSc program at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) under the mentorship of Erin Hagar, MA, MFA, fall 2025. 
  • Michael Mendelson: a doctoral student in the Nursing, DNP program at the School of Nursing (SON) under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Bindon.
  • Ismael Watts-Ouattara: a doctoral student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD program at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Chad Johnson.

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants (GRTAs):

  • Nikita Aggarwal: a doctoral candidate in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Theda Rose.
  • Yancy Padilla: a doctoral student in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Erika Lewis.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, five new graduate students were appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), and one graduate student was appointed as an inaugural Graduate Research Assistant (GRA). These students represent programs in Medical Science, Social Work, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Nursing, and will be mentored by nine faculty across four schools at UMB.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)

  • Ivana Alexander: a doctoral candidate in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Megan Meyer.
  • Kebene Buyo: a doctoral student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP program at the School of Nursing (SON) under the mentorship of Drs. Mueller-Burke & Fitzgerald.
  • Chelsea Rice: a doctoral student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP program at the School of Nursing (SON) under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Bindon.
  • Christel Tajouoh: a doctoral student in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Samantha Fuld.
  • Ayanna Williams: a doctoral student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Drs. Coop & Michel.

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs)

  • Lucy Fromtling: a doctoral student in the Medical Science, DMSc program at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) under the mentorship of Drs. Bondy & Belt.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, six new graduate students were appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). These students represent programs in Social Work, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gerontology, Physical Rehabilitation Science, and Forensic Medicine, and were mentored by six faculty across four schools at UMB.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)

  • Vashti Adams: a doctoral student in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Melissa Smith, fall 2023. 
  • Haelim Lee: a doctoral candidate in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Roderick Rose, spring 2024.
  • Josie Rezende: a doctoral student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD program at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Chad Johnson. 
  • Jocelyn Robinson: a doctoral candidate in the Gerontology, PhD program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. John Schumacher. 
  • Kylie Tomlin: a doctoral student in the Physical Rehabilitation Science, PhD program at the School of Medicine (SOM) under the mentorship of Dr. Kelly Westlake. 
  • Sorina Tomoiaga: a master's student in the Forensic Medicine, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Ling Li, spring 2024. 

In the 2022-2023 academic year, six new graduate students were appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). The students represent programs in Physical Rehabilitation Science, Nursing, Health Professions Education, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Forensic Medicine, and were mentored by six faculty across five schools at UMB.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)

  • Nesreen Alissa: a doctoral student in the Physical Rehabilitation Science, PhD program at the School of Medicine (SOM) under the mentorship of Dr. Kelly Westlake. 
  • Brittany Corbin: a doctoral student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP program at the School of Nursing (SON) under the mentorship of Dr. Susan Bindon. 
  • Michelle Finnegan: a doctoral student in the Health Professions Education, PhD program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. MJ Bondy. 
  • Lena Grogan: a doctoral student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD program at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Chad Johnson. 
  • Yao Wang: a doctoral candidate in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Roderick Rose
  • Kaleb Watson: a master's student in the Forensic Medicine, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Ling Li, spring 2023.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, four new graduate students were appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). These students represent programs in Social Work, Forensic Medicine, Health Sciences, and Nursing, and were mentored by five faculty across three schools at UMB.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)

  • Ji Hyang Cheon: a doctoral candidate in the Social Work, PhD program at the School of Social Work (SSW) under the mentorship of Dr. Roderick Rose, spring 2022.
  • Gracen Korfanty: a master's student in the Forensic Medicine, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Ling Li, spring 2022. 
  • Shankia Mardenborough: a master's student in the Health Sciences, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Jenny Owens
  • Awawu Ojikutu: a doctoral student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP program at the School of Nursing (SON) under the mentorship of Drs. Mueller-Burke & Adkintade, spring 2022. 

In the 2020-2021 academic year, an inaugural cohort of ten graduate students were appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). These students represent programs in Nursing, Forensic Medicine, Oral & Experimental Pathology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Global Health, and Health Sciences, and were mentored by thirteen faculty across four schools at UMB.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)

  • Fadeke Agboke: a doctoral student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP at the School of Nursing (SON) under the mentorship of Drs. Mueller-Burke & Fitzgerald. 
  • Elvira Carias: a master's student in the Forensic Medicine, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Ling Li, fall 2020.
  • Alexis Cirko: a master's student in the Forensic Medicine, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Ling Li, spring 2021. 
  • Ioana Ghita: a doctoral student in the Oral & Experimental Pathology, PhD program at the School of Dentistry (SOD) under the mentorship of Dr. Rania Younis. 
  • Juliette Obi: a doctoral student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD program at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Drs. Coop & Johnson. 
  • Sarah Pribil: a master's student in the Forensic Medicine, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Drs. Kucher & Owens. 
  • Riley Risteen: a doctoral student in the Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, PhD program at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Gillespie. 
  • Annette Steinmann: a master's student in the Global Health, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Dr. Carlos Faerron Guzman, spring 2021. 
  • Sumiya Tabassum: a master's student in the Health Sciences, MS program at the Graduate School (GS) under the mentorship of Drs. Werts & Pearce. 
  • Paige Zambrana: a doctoral student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD program at the School of Pharmacy (SOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Audra Stinchcomb.

Teaching Development Opportunities Moving Forward

While the Future Educators Academy has concluded, UMB’s partnership with the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) enables the university to support a broader population of graduate and professional students interested in teaching roles.

Through CIRTL@UMB, students can engage in nationally recognized, evidence-based professional development focused on teaching, learning, and academic career preparation.

Students and faculty are encouraged to explore current offerings through CIRTL@UMB.

Contact

For general questions about the Future Educators Academy’s legacy or teaching development opportunities at UMB, please contact, the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) at facultycenter@umaryland.edu

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is the founding campus of the University System of Maryland.

620 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD
21201 | 410-706-3100

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination.
© 2025-2026 University of Maryland, Baltimore. All rights reserved.