Dear Members of the TC Community:

I am pleased to announce the recipients of the Teachers College 2026 Medal for Distinguished Service — the highest honor we bestow.

This year’s distinguished medalists, each of whom will address TC’s graduating masters and doctoral students at our four convocation ceremonies, are: Prudence L. Carter, Sarah and Joseph Jr. Dowling Professor of Sociology and Peltz Ruttenberg Family Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University; Wanda Marie Holland Greene, Head of School at The Hamlin School in San Francisco; Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director of New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Food Policy; and Misty Copeland, renowned American ballet dancer, author, educator, and philanthropist. 

Prudence L. Carter (M.A. ’95), who received her masters in sociology and education from TC and her doctorate in sociology from Columbia, is the honoree at TC’s first ceremony (Counseling & Clinical Psychology, Human Development) on the morning of Monday, May 18. An internationally recognized scholar, Professor Carter’s research examines the causes of enduring educational and social inequalities, with particular attention to how race, ethnicity, class and gender shape academic achievement and mobility in the United States and globally.

Wanda Marie Holland Greene (Ed.M. ’21, M.A. ’92) will be honored at our second ceremony (Mathematics, Science & Technology, Organization & Leadership) on the evening of Monday, May 18. She is a nationally recognized and respected leader in education who, over more than three decades, has developed schools and fostered communities to support equity and excellence for all children. Of special note, after graduating from Columbia College, Ms. Holland Greene earned both her Ed.M. in private school leadership and an M.A. in curriculum and instruction from TC.

Kate MacKenzie (M.S. ’02), an alumna of TC’s program in nutrition, will be honored at our third ceremony (Biobehavioral Sciences, Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology, International & Transcultural Studies, Education, Policy, & Social Analysis) on the morning of Tuesday, May 19. Ms. MacKenzie advises New York City leadership on all aspects of food policy and leads efforts to transform the city’s food system to be more equitable, sustainable and healthy through initiatives.

Misty Copeland will be honored at our fourth ceremony (Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching) on the evening of Tuesday, May 19. Ms. Copeland made history in 2015 as the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer in the 75-year history of American Ballet Theatre, after joining the company at age 18 and rising rapidly from the corps de ballet to soloist and then principal. She is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and access in the arts, having served on President Obama’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and has appeared across film, television, Broadway and global stages.

Please read more about this year’s medalists here. It is a tribute to the accomplishments of our 2026 graduates that these extraordinary game changers will join us for Convocation.

As a reminder, the last day to register for Convocation tickets is Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. EDT. Please visit the Convocation website to reserve your seats.

I look forward to celebrating with all of you in May.

Warmly, 

Thomas Bailey
President, Teachers College