College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at UNC

🎶 Faculty Spotlight 🎶

We're proud to celebrate two of our talented faculty members who recently shared their musical gifts with the community through the Greeley Chorale's May performance!

👏 Dr. Amie Cieminski, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Leadership, Policy, and Development, performed as an alto singer in the chorale.

👏 Dr. David Hulac, Professor in the Department of School Psychology, was featured as the baritone soloist in one of the concert's selections.

Their participation highlights the many ways our faculty contribute both on campus and beyond, enriching our community through scholarship, leadership, and the arts.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Cieminski and Dr. Hulac on a wonderful performance! 🎵✨

Three members of the UNC community have been recognized on the Colorado Department of Higher Education's 2025 Future Educator Honor Roll, a distinction awarded to just 43 outstanding teacher candidates and emerging educators across the state.

Congratulations to:
🌟 Trenna Jones, Sport and Exercise Science with an emphasis in K-12 Physical Education
🌟 Marcus Robinson, Psychology major with a Special Education minor
🌟 Savana Long, '26, Theatre Education graduate with a minor in Psychology

These future educators are already making an impact through their passion, dedication and commitment to supporting students.

Marcus hopes to become a school counselor or school psychologist, inspired by a desire to ensure every student feels seen, heard and supported.

Savana, who begins teaching at Greeley Central High School this fall, is committed to creating classrooms where students feel respected, understood and empowered to grow. She also plans to continue sharing her love of theatre with future generations.

We're proud to see UNC students and graduates recognized for their excellence, leadership and promise as the next generation of educators. Congratulations, Marcus, Trenna and Savana! 👏🐻💙

This June, the Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity (CREEO) at UC Berkeley will welcome Dr. Lizette Navarrete-Burks, Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Northern Colorado, as part of the Visiting Scholars Cohort 2.

Designed for faculty at Research 2 and Research Colleges & Universities, the Visiting Scholars Program supports scholars approaching tenure through mentorship, dedicated research time, and collaboration within a vibrant scholarly community.

Over the summer, Dr. Navarrete-Burks will work alongside Travis J. Bristol, Ph.D. and the CREEO team on research advancing educational equity and opportunity.

We look forward to following her journey and the important contributions her work will bring to the field and to UNC!

🔗 Learn more about the Visiting Scholars Program: https://lnkd.in/gGDjK4Cp

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Heng-Yu Ku, Professor in the School of Teacher Education, for being recognized with the Excellence in Assessment Council Leadership Award! 🎉

Presented at the University Assessment Recognition Luncheon on May 4, this award honors Dr. Ku’s outstanding leadership and contributions to assessment at the University of Northern Colorado. His dedication to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement continues to make a lasting impact on our students, faculty, and university community.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Ku and all of this year’s Excellence in Assessment Award recipients! 👏💙🐻💛

Please join us in congratulating members of our School Psychology community on their outstanding achievements! 🎉

Dr. Keeley Hynes (pictured), Assistant Professor in the Department of School Psychology, was recognized with the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award from the Graduate School for her dedication to mentoring and supporting graduate students throughout their academic journeys.

We are also proud to celebrate two of our doctoral students, Sarah Pryor and Jessica Pena, for earning UNC’s Outstanding Dissertation Award this year — an incredible accomplishment that reflects their hard work, scholarship, and contributions to the field of school psychology.

These honors highlight the excellence, dedication, and meaningful work happening within our School Psychology community every day. 💙🐻💛

Congratulations to our outstanding alumna, Tonijo Niccoli, Principal of New Meridian High School! 🎉

Tonijo’s approach to leadership is rooted in authenticity, joy, and leading with heart. She believes in going “all-in” for the people she serves — creating a school culture where students and staff work hard, laugh often, and embrace every challenge with creativity and purpose. Her commitment to ensuring students have access to every possible opportunity continues to inspire those around her.

As a triple alumna of the University of Northern Colorado, Tonijo earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Special Education, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership. Reflecting on her experience at UNC, she shared that the School of Education not only taught pedagogy but invested in the human spirit — providing lifelong connections, exceptional mentorship, and a foundation for success that helped shape her into the educator and leader she is today.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Tonijo and the impact she continues to make in education every day.

💙🐻💛

Congratulations to our outstanding alumna, Nicole Peterson, on being named Principal of the Year! 🎉

Nicole’s leadership is grounded in empowerment, relationships, and shared ownership of success — creating a school culture where every student feels known, every staff member feels supported, and meaningful moments leave a lasting impact on the community.

Reflecting on her experience in the University of Northern Colorado Educational Leadership program, Nicole shared that it was “truly transformative,” providing her with the foundation to lead with purpose, vision, and intention. Beyond the knowledge and skills gained, the lasting camaraderie, mentorship, and network of leaders continue to inspire and support her journey today.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Nicole and the difference she is making in education every day.

💙🐻💛

Meet some of our newest alumni 🎓🐻

✨ Desiree M. Lee earned her Bachelor’s in Special Education K-12 Teaching Licensure (5-21). Inspired by her passion for helping others, Desiree found her calling in special education and built a strong community of mentors, classmates, coworkers, and loved ones along the way. She’ll be teaching at Vista Peak Preparatory High School while beginning her master’s program at UNC.

✨ Mikayla Ambriz earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a CLD endorsement. From dreaming of being Hannah Montana as a kid to preparing for a career in education, Mikayla’s journey at UNC has been shaped by perseverance, advocacy, and the support of the Center for Urban Education. Next up: teaching with Westminster Public Schools while working toward her master’s degree!

Their stories are reminders to believe in yourself, lean on your community, and never stop chasing your goals. Congratulations to all of our graduates! 🎉💙

Read more here: https://www.unco.edu/news/articles/faces-of-spring-2026-graduates/

Huge congratulations to Randy Thuesen on receiving this year’s Faculty in Residence Award 🎉

From day one in Turner Hall, Randy has gone above and beyond to build meaningful connections, support students, and create a true sense of community. Whether it’s hosting programs, showing up with a smile, or even making breakfast during finals week, he consistently reminds students that they are seen, supported, and valued.

His genuine care, creativity, and commitment have made a lasting impact not just in his building, but across the entire UNC community. Randy doesn’t just participate—he elevates the experience for everyone around him.

So well deserved—congrats, Randy 👏

🎓 Congratulations Class of 2026! 🎓

Pictured:
Left: Angel Beckman, Art Major and CLD
Center: Dr. Deborah Romero, Director of the School of Teacher Education
Right: Diana Diaz Orzuna, Elementary Education and CLD

We are so proud of your accomplishments and excited to see the impact you will make in the future. Congratulations, graduates! 🌟