Alumni Council members

HGSE Alumni Council, 2007-2008

* denotes a new council member

Margaret Jay Braatz, Ed.M. '93, Ed.D. '99
Alumni Council Vice-Chair
(Council Term 2005-2009)

Senior Executive for Presidential Operations, DePaul University
Jay's perspective on education is influenced by previous work in the non-profit world and her 15-year career with Outward Bound. Jay views involvement on the Alumni Council as a way to bring alumni voices and interests to HGSE's work to strengthen teaching, learning, and scholarship across a variety of educational settings.

Anthony De Jesús Ed.M. '97, Ed.D. '03
(Council Term 2006-2010)

Assistant Professor, Hunter College School of Social Work, (CUNY), New York City
Anthony's HGSE journey was characterized by vigorous debate and struggle regarding the full inclusion of historically excluded communities at HGSE. Despite considerable challenge and frustration - it was the most empowering experience of his life. Through this journey, Anthony learned to navigate the competing tensions between institutions and excluded communities and to devise solutions to the "challenges of diversity" in ways that are mutually beneficial. After seven years in a leadership role at Centro - a university based institute dedicated to documenting, preserving, and interpreting the Puerto Rican/Latino experience in the U.S. - Anthony has recently accepted an Assistant Professorship at the Hunter College School of Social Work. He looks forward to teaching courses in research methods and continuing to focus on his own research.

Ande Diaz, Ed.M. '94
(Council Term 2004-2008)

Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Intercultural Center, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Ande believes the purpose of a liberal arts education is to develop critically thinking and compassionate world citizens who care deeply about social justice. Her book The Harvard College Guide to Careers in Public Service argues for incorporating a public ethic into all three employment sectors. After working for 15 years within predominantly white universities her greatest joy comes from showing students -- especially traditionally underserved and first generation college students -- how to claim their campuses in all regards. Ande invites voices that have not traditionally participated in HGSE governance to speak up. A product of HGSE's course "Education for Social and Political Change" she hopes to serve as a cultural and institutional bridge between those voices and HGSE in its mission to prepare our next generation of educators. Ande is persuaded by Bell Hook's argument that access to education is part of the practice of freedom.

Tasha Franklin, Ed.M. '95
(Council Term 2005-2009)

Title 1, Staff Specialist, Office of Federal Programs, Baltimore City Public School System Baltimore, MD
Tasha's experience at HGSE spawned a lifetime commitment of front-line work with school districts and teacher education departments across the country in the areas of new teacher development and cross-cultural studies in urban centers. As a language arts teacher and later a teacher educator, Tasha resolved to embark upon a professional mission of training a teacher population that was well prepared and ready to work in public schools. As a researcher and practitioner, her commitment to equitable and accessible education and professional opportunities help ensure that prospective students and graduates have a pathway to growth and development within the Harvard network and beyond.

*Rowena Fong, Ed.D. '90
(Council Term 2007-2011)

Professor and Director, Bachelor of Social Work Program, University of Texas at Austin
Rowena's life work with children and families to promote empowerment and cultural diversity has been reflected by her various roles as a clinical social worker, preschool teacher and director of a bilingual, bicultural Chinese preschool, college professor, Center Director of Asian American Studies, and university administrator. Her areas of advocacy encompass child welfare, international adoptions, immigrants and refugees, Asian American children and families, and other ethnic minority issues. As author, educator, and consultant, Rowena promotes culturally competent practices and policies in universities and schools, private agencies, and public organizations. She welcomes the opportunity to serve on the HGSE Alumni Council to collaborate with others in bridging communities and disciplines to strengthen ethnically diverse populations.

Irene Hall C.A.S. '85, Ed.D. '05
(Council Term 2006-2010)

Co-Founder and Co-Leader of the Discovery Charter School, Newark, NJ
The Discovery Charter School is a small urban middle school that has been in existence for seven years. As a teaching principal, Irene is familiar with both classroom and administrative issues. Before she started the school, Irene worked as a special education teacher for fifteen years. Her time at Harvard Graduate School of Education is one of her most favored lifetime experiences. While at Harvard, Irene served on the Editorial Board of the Harvard Educational Review. She loves discussing educational issues with colleagues and with her busy life as a teacher and school administrator, she rarely has the opportunity to do so. As a mentor of the advisory board, she brings her fondness of HGSE and her experiences as a practitioner to the Council.

*Deborah J. Hirsch, Ed.M. '86, Ed.D. '89
(Council Term 2007-2011)

Interim Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mount Ida College, Newton, MA
In her work across a variety of educational settings, Deborah continues to revisit the themes of leadership, access and equity that were part of classroom discussions, lectures and field experiences at HGSE. Her experience includes leading educational non-profits, teaching at both public and private universities and serving as a member of Governor Patrick's higher education task force and Commonwealth Readiness Project sub-committee to create a strategic plan for a comprehensive public education system for Massachusetts. For the past five years, Deborah has worked with HGSE student interns helping them link theory and practice and find useful knowledge to the questions that arise in classrooms and on campuses

Marc Johnson, Ed.M. '99
Alumni Council Chair
(Council Term 2004-2008)

Associate Director of Leadership Gifts, Boston College
Marc's interest in the colleges and universities that comprise the American system of higher education was cultivated at HGSE. Curriculum, professors, and a cohort of exceptional peers were critical in Marc's discovery of the complicated relationships—faculty and students, staff and faculty, campus and community, for example—that contribute to the success of an institution.

Sarah L. Levine, Ed.M. '77, Ed.D. '80
(Council Term 2006-2010)

Retired Principal; Current Education Consultant, Teacher, Writer, Denver, CO
Currently, Sarah collaborates with teachers and principals on issues and practices related to creating schools that support the health and well-being of their constituents. Sarah has devoted her career to promoting and supporting the growth of the adults who work in schools on behalf of adult and student learning. She worked closely with school leaders as Associate Director of the Harvard Principals center. At HGSE, she also directed the principal certificated program, taught, and led summer institutes for practicing and aspiring school leaders. She has been principal of an elementary and pre-K through twelfth grade school-hard and important work that she loved. HGSE ignited and sustained her passion for teaching and learning and she is honored to give back to HGSE by bringing her experience, energy and passion to the work of the Council.

*Marc Lewis, Ed.M. '99
(Council Term 2007-2011)

Teacher, RJ Grey Junior High School; President, Acton Education Association
As a seventh grade social studies teacher and president of a local affiliate of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and National Education Association, Marc hopes to join the Alumni Council in order to ensure that training classroom teachers remains a priority for HGSE.  HGSE's programs and initiatives must always reflect an understanding that those who work directly with young people and affect their lives daily are integral members of the educational community.  As a member of the Council, Marc will challenge the Ed. School to continue its commitment to training and preparing teachers for that great responsibility.  As the former president of GLSEN Boston, the founding chapter of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, he will be a voice on the Council for social justice and a passionate advocate for education to serve as a vehicle for societal and political change.

Robert Parlin, Ed.M. '87
(Council Term 2004-2008)

History Teacher, Newton South High School, MA
For the past seventeen years Bob has been teaching history at Newton South High School, and still has a passion for his job . Much of his career has also been spent working to help schools create safer, more inclusive communities where respect for human differences is a core value. He has enjoyed his ties with HGSE over the years, and hopes to strengthen HGSE's connection to schools and public school teachers.

Darnell Williams, Ed.M. '96
(Council Term 2005-2009)

Induction Director, Boston Teacher Residency Program with the Boston Plan for Excellence, Boston, MA
Prior to working at the Boston Plan for Excellence, Darnell served as Professional Development Director for Voices Publishing Company. At Voices, he was able to provide faculty and staff development for grades K-12 in the areas of violence prevention, character education, and literacy. He is a strong advocate for racial and ethnic diversity in education, and a major focus of his professional work has been on reducing the achievement gap and creating more equitable schools. Darnell feels that the time he spent at HGSE was the most rewarding experience of his life; meeting diverse people and establishing viable networks proved invaluable.