Simmons Students Shine Archive
Celebrating Excellence and Impact
From groundbreaking achievements in literacy and STEM education to the celebration of a new generation of graduates, the first half of 2025 has been a remarkable period for the Simmons School at SMU. Honoring the dedication and leadership of students, alumni, and faculty, these months have showcased the school’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community impact. Whether through prestigious national recognitions or the conferral of advanced degrees, Simmons continues to shape the future of education and leadership across diverse fields.
Melissa Fullmore
Dr. Melissa Fullmore, Graduate of the inaugural Ed.D. Educational Leadership class of 2018, starts her first full academic year as CEO and Executive Director of KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools in Florida. Fullmore says she is grateful for her time at SMU and believes it gave her a strong foundation to become the top leader at the fast-growing school of more than 3,100 students. “We believe that children should have a joyful, affirming, academically excellent experience and that is what we strive for every day.”
September - October, 2025
Education and Policy Leadership M.Ed. 2025 Graduates
Simmons congratulates four of our Education Policy and Leadership M.Ed. graduates who have been named new, first-time principals at elementary schools in the Dallas ISD. Emily Brokaw at Sudie L. Williams TAG Academy; Miriam Rodriguez at Felix G. Botello; Garvin Williams at Edward Titche; and Hannah Williams at John J. Pershing. In addition to that good news, at least 13 of our M.Ed. alums have recently been hired as Assistant Principals in Dallas ISD.
June - August, 2025
Honored Alumni: 2025 Spring Graduation
At SMU’s spring 2025 graduation ceremony, 292 Simmons School students were awarded baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees in Counseling, Sport Management, Teacher Education, K-12 School Leadership, Higher Education, Liberal Studies, Dispute Resolution, Sport Performance Leadership, or Health Promotion Management. The ceremony was led by the Simmons School Dean, Dr. Stephanie Knight; student speakers included Sean Murphy earning an EdD, Destiny Fairley earning an M.S. in Counseling, Hannah Galbreath earning an M.Ed., Syed Ali earning a D.L.S., and Julia Cunningham earning a B.S. in Sport Performance Leadership.
April - May, 2025
Mai Zaru
Mai Zaru, a 2024 graduate of Simmons’ PhD program, has been named to the International Literacy Association’s 2025 “30-Under-30” list. This prestigious recognition highlights emerging leaders who are transforming literacy education and promoting equity in classrooms, communities, and beyond. According to Dr. Zaru, the honor is both humbling and deeply meaningful, as it reflects not only her individual efforts but the collective work of many who are committed to advancing literacy and educational equity.
February - March, 2025
Saki Milton
Simmons PhD candidate and graduate researcher, Saki Milton, founded the non-profit "GEMS Camp" (Girls in Engineering, Math, & Science), which was selected in January 2025 by President Joe Biden as a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Milton founded GEMS Camp in 20210 while teaching math in an IB charter school and remains GEMS' Executive Director to this day.
December, 2024 - January, 2025
Sandra Romero
Sandra Romero received her Master of Bilingual Education in 2024 from the Simmons School. Romero teaches Kindergarten in the Dallas Independent School District and was recently named Teacher of the Year at her campus. While at SMU Simmons, she received support from the Jerry and Gigi Glisson Poglitsch Endowed Scholarship Fund. She says she is grateful to the Poglitsch family and to SMU Simmons for the outstanding education she received. “I could not be prouder of being an SMU student and now an alumna. I love my university and am excited for all the great things that are coming my way.”
