Alumni and friends joyously convened at Teachers College for this year’s Alumni Day on Oct. 3, an annual reunion that celebrates community, the College’s Alumni Award recipients, and their impactful work. 

“Though our backgrounds and careers span the fields of education, health, and psychology, we are all bound by that transformative Teachers College experience. Time and again, alumni tell me about the pivotal moments that shaped our journey,” Jane E. Brown (M.A. ’10), President of TC’s Alumni Council, said to a standing-room audience in Milbank Chapel. “Thank you for returning to TC today to celebrate our shared history and bright future together.”

Gathering in Morningside Heights on a crisp fall day, alumni celebrating on campus spanned generations, with graduates from the Class of 1962 to the Class of 2026 who have made an impact on the world. 

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(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

President Thomas Bailey addresses a standing-room only crowd in Milbank Chapel at Teachers College. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

In his welcome remarks, President Thomas Bailey urged attendees to recommit to their own values and pursuits as they listened to the stellar lineup of speakers, and to be active in their communities. “Yours are among the most important voices in raising up our collective impact and emphasizing the importance of Teachers College," he said. "So we welcome your presence, and we welcome you to continue to be emissaries of your TC education, of empathy, of impact, and of innovation.”

Celebrating the Alumni Awards

During the day’s festivities, Teachers College honored the five recipients of this year’s Alumni Awards for profound contributions to their respective fields, the TC community and beyond.

Anitha Iyer (Ph.D.’11, M.S.’09, M.A.’04), Michael A. Perelman (Ph.D. ’77, M.Phil. ’75, M.S. ’73) and Dena Simmons (Ed.D. ’14, M.A. ’14) each received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Nicole Johnson (Ed.D. ’21) was honored with the Early Career Award and Delmy M. Lendof (Ed.D. ’13) received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Service. 

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Alumni award honorees Lendorf (left), Simmons (second from left), Perelman (second from right) and Iyer (right) celebrate their awards with President Thomas Bailey (center). TC faculty member Davina Gregory-Kameka accepted Johnson’s award on her behalf. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

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Anitha Iyer (Ph.D.’11, M.S.’09, M.A.’04)

Anitha Iyer (Ph.D.’11, M.S.’09, M.A.’04)

Michael A. Perelman (Ph.D. ’77, M.Phil. ’75, M.S. ’73)

Michael A. Perelman (Ph.D. ’77, M.Phil. ’75, M.S. ’73)

Dena Simmons (Ed.D. ’14, M.A. ’14)

Dena Simmons (Ed.D. ’14, M.A. ’14)

Nicole Johnson (Ed.D. ’21)

Nicole Johnson (Ed.D. ’21)

Delmy M. Lendof (Ed.D. ’13)

Delmy M. Lendof (Ed.D. ’13)

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TC has equipped me in many ways to face today’s challenges and meet the moment. That taught me to persevere. That has helped me push myself and try to find creative ways to get things done.

Anitha Iyer (Ph.D.’11, M.S.’09, M.A.’04), Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of Behavioral Health Population Management at and Mount Sinai Health System

[At LiberatED] we’re a community-generated approach, and it brings me back to being at Teachers College and finding community here, and knowing the importance of community…I brought that into what I’m doing in this role.

Dena Simmons (Ed.D. ’14, M.A. ’14), Founder and Executive Director of LiberatED

TC helped equip me for various challenges with the exposure to two things: one, encouraging me to explore my own mind and what my own biases were….[and different experiences that demonstrate] this notion of there’s always different sides to a story.

Michael A. Perelman (Ph.D. ’77, M.Phil. ’75, M.S. ’73), Clinical Professor Emeritus of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine

TC has enriched my intellectual life [through] the collaborations with my colleagues and mentors and with students [that] have stretched my own thinking. It really is the community of thinkers, scholars and human beings that has made the most profound impact on me.

Nicole Johnson (Ed.D. ’21), Visiting Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Program in Art and Art Education at Teachers College

TC gave me knowledge and competency to understand world issues that were impacting our society then and continue to impact society today — that I could be a change agent for the institutions and the students.

Delmy M. Lendof (Ed.D. ’13), Vice President for Student Affairs at Pratt Institute

Exploring Impactful Research & Practice 

In honor of the innovative learning that defines Teachers College itself, guests also enjoyed thought-provoking discussions across education, health and psychology. 

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Alumni Award honorees Anitha Iyer (Ph.D.’11, M.S.’09, M.A.’04), a leading voice in psychiatry and behavioral health, and Dena Simmons (Ed.D. ’14, M.A.’14), a nationally recognized champion for educational equity, discussed their work at the intersection of health education with TC’s Laura Smith, Interim Provost, Dean of the College, and Vice President for Academic Affairs. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

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TC has equipped me in many ways to face today’s challenges and meet the moment. That taught me to persevere. That has helped me push myself and try to find creative ways to get things done.

Anitha Iyer (Ph.D.’11, M.S.’09, M.A.’04), Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of Behavioral Health Population Management at and Mount Sinai Health System

[At LiberatED] we’re a community-generated approach, and it brings me back to being at Teachers College and finding community here, and knowing the importance of community…I brought that into what I’m doing in this role.

Dena Simmons (Ed.D. ’14, M.A. ’14), Founder and Executive Director of LiberatED

TC helped equip me for various challenges with the exposure to two things: one, encouraging me to explore my own mind and what my own biases were….[and different experiences that demonstrate] this notion of there’s always different sides to a story.

Michael A. Perelman (Ph.D. ’77, M.Phil. ’75, M.S. ’73), Clinical Professor Emeritus of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine

TC has enriched my intellectual life [through] the collaborations with my colleagues and mentors and with students [that] have stretched my own thinking. It really is the community of thinkers, scholars and human beings that has made the most profound impact on me.

Nicole Johnson (Ed.D. ’21), Visiting Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Program in Art and Art Education at Teachers College

TC gave me knowledge and competency to understand world issues that were impacting our society then and continue to impact society today — that I could be a change agent for the institutions and the students.

Delmy M. Lendof (Ed.D. ’13), Vice President for Student Affairs at Pratt Institute

Revitalizing Educational Values for Our Time

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In his keynote address, David Hansen, the John L. & Sue Ann Weinberg Professor in Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education, explored the topic “Revitalizing Educational Values for Our Times.” His proposed  recommitment to expanding learning opportunities, deepening human insight, and broadening and enriching human awareness and understanding provided an inspirational roadmap for all members of the TC community who are striving to realize a better world. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

 

 

We're trying to educate human beings, not configure robots. Education is emphatically not, I think, an engineering project. It is, I think, an intellectual, moral, aesthetic, emotional, holistic endeavor in which nobody can give an education to another, but in which those who teach can create conditions where students can take on and develop their education. As the familiar adage has it, you can buy a painting, but you can't buy an understanding of it. You can buy an educational credential, but you cannot purchase an education….Education is always more than problem-solving.

David Hansen, the John L. & Sue Ann Weinberg Professor in Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education, on the impact of artificial intelligence on learning

 

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 At a critical moment for education, MaryEllen McGuire (Ph.D. ’02, center), President & Founder of the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI), and Erin Huffer-Kramer (Ph.D. ’26, right) discussed current education policy issues and the future with TC Trustee Jay Urwitz (left), Senior Deputy General Counsel for Special Projects at SUNY. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

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I would feel remiss if we didn’t give a shout out to the public servants who are still [at the Department of Education.] These are the unsung heroes….[D.C.] is a place where people have gone for decades because they believe in the power of public service and the power of government to do good.

MaryEllen McGuire (Ph.D.’02), President & Founder of the Postsecondary National Policy Institute

As our excellent panelists discussed earlier this morning, getting involved in your local community, speaking with your school board, getting involved at the local level is really [important]....80-90% of our funding comes from state and local sources, so this is not just a federal policy conversation. This is a very local conversation as well.

Erin Huffer-Kramer (Ph.D.’26)

 

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Jane Brown at Alumni Day
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(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography) 

Jane E. Brown (M.A. ’10), President of TC’s Alumni Council. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

Alumni enjoyed company and conversation during lunch in Grace Dodge Dining Hall. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

Roberta W. Albert (M.A. ’97), Vice President for Institutional Advancement, reflected on her own TC journey during her remarks. “[Alumni Day] is also a time to look back on our own TC journeys and reflect how they shaped us — whether you graduated five years ago or 50 years ago, our memories stay with us — an inspiring professor, a particular course, a late-night coffee with classmates,” said Albert, a graduate of the College’s Art Administration program, as part of her introduction of Hansen’s keynote address. “I know that the appreciation for a professor who became a mentor, who became a friend, is one of the things that brings us back.” (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography)

 

(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography) 

(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography) 

(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography) 

Jeffrey Putnam (Ed.D. ’11, Ed.M. ’98), the 2021 recipient Alumni Award for Outstanding Service, shared closing remarks ahead of the afternoon dessert reception. (Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography) 

(Photo: BVD for Sirin Samman Photography) 

Learn more about how to get involved in the Teachers College alumni community here. 

Tags: Alumni At The College Education Policy Future of Teaching Health

Published Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026