First graduates earn MAT, MEd degrees during Spring commencement ceremony
Pictured in three rows of graduates, from back to front and left to right, are: Morgan Adams, Sirri McCormick, Lorilei Bozeman, Troy Roddy, Antoinette Mills, JoElle Gomez, Nicholas Bijou, Myranda Joseph, Lauren Mench, Brittany Siddell, Reagan, Ulrich, Kristan Gray, Ellie Goldzweig, Robin Murray-Fox, Michelle Erdos, Brandi Bretey, Farren Schmidt and Jessica Tejada. In the front row, from left to right, are Program Director Claudine Davis and Associate Program Director Hazel Woods. Not all graduates are pictured.
Tulane University conferred degrees upon the first cohort of graduates to earn the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and the Master of Education (MEd) through the School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) during the university’s 2025 Unified Commencement Ceremony held Saturday, May 17.
Tulane SoPA launched both the online MEd and the MAT degrees in 2023 with a goal of providing a rigorous and rewarding pathway for the next generation of educators. Both programs offer an intensive blend of academic coursework and hands-on teaching experience preparing graduates for licensure and immediate impact in the field.
“This first graduating class represents our deep commitment to preparing high-quality educators who are passionate about equity, learning, and student success,” said Claudine Davis, Education Program director. “Each of these graduates is leaving Tulane ready to shape lives and strengthen communities through education.”
While the online MEd program attracted students as far as Chicago, students in the MAT program have worked closely with partner schools across the New Orleans metro area, gaining invaluable real-world experience under the mentorship of veteran educators. The program also emphasizes culturally responsive teaching practices and instructional strategies that support diverse learners.
MAT graduate, Morgan Adams, says a combination of faculty expertise and flexibility made Tulane the perfect place to pursue her education.
“I was nervous about going back to school and how I would balance my classes, schoolwork, and working,” said Morgan, “but my professors made my experience of pursuing higher education a transformative journey, providing both intellectual guidance and personal mentorship that shaped my academic and professional growth.
Applications for the next MAT and MEd cohort are now open.
