At American University’s Linda A. and H. Kent Baker School of Education, the impact of philanthropy is measured in students finding the support to pursue their goals, a future educator gaining the confidence and experience to lead a classroom, and a new national center working to strengthen college teaching and student success.

Together, these stories reflect a year of meaningful momentum for the Baker School, where philanthropic support is helping prepare the next generation of educators while advancing ideas that can shape education far beyond AU.

Opening Doors for Future Educators

This fall, Rosa Reyes will begin the Doctor of Education program at the Baker School as the inaugural recipient of the Baker Family Scholarship. Established to support the recruitment and retention of graduate students, the new scholarship was created as part of the historic gift from the late H. Kent Baker, CAS/MS ’79, Baker/PhD ’83, MA ’84, PhD ’89.

For Reyes, the scholarship represents more than financial assistance. It is an affirmation of her work and her vision for creating more equitable opportunities for immigrant students in higher education.

“Being selected as the first recipient of the Baker Family Scholarship was truly an honor,” Reyes said. “It meant that others saw potential in me and believed in what I could accomplish. The scholarship is more than financial support—it has given me confidence and encouraged me to keep working hard toward my goals.”

Preparing Educators to Make an Impact

For Tatiana Ellis, Baker/BA ’26, scholarship support from the Ruby King Bush Scholarship and the William H. and Eileen D. Simons Scholarship helped make her own journey possible.

A Southeast DC native, Ellis came to AU with a longtime dream of becoming an educator. Through her experiences at the Baker School, including student teaching at Hendley Elementary School and participating in the AmeriCorps Generation Teach Summer Teaching Fellowship, she has developed the skills and confidence to turn that dream into a career.

“Because of the scholarship I received to attend AU, I didn’t have to worry about the financial part of getting my education. I was able to strictly focus on school,” Ellis said. “I know a lot of students don’t get that opportunity, so I’m grateful.”

Taking the Impact to a National Scale

In FY26, the school received more than $1 million in grants from Lumina Foundation and ECMC Foundation to launch the Advancing College Teaching for Student Success (ACTSS) National Center. The center addresses a persistent challenge in higher education by elevating undergraduate teaching excellence, one of the most important drivers of the student experience.

Led by Professor Corbin M. Campbell, the ACTSS National Center launched its inaugural initiative, the Alliance for Better College Teaching, to advance evidence-based teaching practices and help make teaching excellence a more consistent part of the college experience.

“With the dawn of AI, as questions arise about the ability of higher education to prepare students for an unknown future, now is the time to ensure that every student in every college course has a teaching experience that will support their success,” Campbell said. “This is the mission of the ACTSS Center.

This year, the Baker School demonstrated the far-reaching impact of investing in education. From supporting students as they pursue their goals to advancing ideas that can shape classrooms and institutions, philanthropy is helping create a ripple effect that extends well beyond AU. As the Baker School looks ahead, that impact is only beginning to grow.

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