By Isabella DeHayes
The School of Education celebrated the class of 2026 on June 10 at the Academy of Music. Interim Dean, Aroutis Foster, PhD welcomed the crowd and congratulated the graduates, saying, “We are not only proud of your accomplishments today, but we are also proud of the extraordinary people you have become.”
“Know that the experiences you’ve had here, and the bonds you have formed, have prepared you well for the challenges of leadership amid rapid change,” Foster told graduates. “Today, before us, are educators, administrators, researchers, advocates and leaders who will shape communities and inspire future generations.”
Jadzia Watsey, BS/MS advanced teaching, learning, and curriculum ’26, addressed the graduating class as the student commencement speaker. She highlighted the way Drexel taught her about building community and creating spaces rooted in connection.
“When I look back at my time at Drexel, I couldn’t tell you which class challenged me the most or which assignments pushed me the hardest,” Watsey said. “Not because this program wasn’t rigorous, but because what stuck with me is harder to quantify than a grade. It’s the people, the conversations that challenged me, the moments that forced me to think differently, and the community that made it clear that none of us were meant to do this work alone.”
“Teaching is at its core an act of resistance,” she continued. “In a world that rewards compliance, speed and surface level performance, teaching asks for something different. It asks us to slow down. To prioritize relationships over metrics. To treat students not as problems to manage, but as people to understand.”
The School of Education invited Asya Johnson, EdD ’20, to speak as this year's keynote speaker. As a transformative educational leader, Dr. Johnson is a scholar, practitioner and systems innovator with over 20 years of experience advancing equity centered school transformation, early college access and culturally responsive leadership.
Dr. Johnson is also the founder of HBCU Early College Prep in New York City, which is the first early college high school model in a major metropolitan district. It is designed to expand college access and create direct pathways to historically Black colleges and universities.
“My dissertation, my career and my life have been devoted to one question: What does it truly mean to prepare educators, not just for the classroom, but for liberation?” Johnson said.
“Brilliance is not rare, it’s unrecognized. So go change the world and be as fierce as Mario the Dragon. Congratulations, class of 2026,” she finished.
Watch a recording of the ceremony here.