Our Best Wishes to Retiring Faculty
Please join us in recognizing our faculty who retired recently and learning more about their next steps.
In the past year, Johanna Maes, associate teaching professor and director of the master’s in higher education, also retired, and Kevin Welner, professor of educational foundations, policy and practice, retired from that position and continues to serve as research professor and director of the National Education Policy Center.Â
Sue Hopewell
Associate Professor of Equity, Bilingualism and Biliteracy
What are you excited about in retirement?Â
“Retirement is the best! I’m volunteering at the elementary school across the street from my home. I’ve enjoyed some cooking classes— French pastries and croissants. One thing I’ve started that was not on my list is golfing classes. I took it up because my husband and I closed on a condo at the coast in Delaware where I have family. Our development has a nine-hole course that I want to be able to play. It also has a kayak launch directly into the bay and wooded hiking trails. We are in heaven!â€
What are you grateful for in your time at the School of Education?Â
“I appreciated working at a school that had a shared mission to social justice. We didn’t always get it right, but we were willing to step back, self-critique and think hard about how to move forward. That said, without a doubt, the thing that brought me the most joy while I was in the School of Education was my colleagues in EBB, my Literacy Squared team and my students— particularly the doctoral students. They were thoughtful, kind, generous and fun! I miss them terribly. At the end of the day, it’s all about the people, isn’t it?â€
Vicki Hand
Associate Professor of STEM
What are you excited about in retirement?Â
“After 17 years at CU, I decided it was time for a new adventure focused on my interest in reparations work. I’m excited to get involved with community-based organizing dedicated to developing a model for reparations. I’m also coediting a book for Harvard Education Press about mathematics teacher noticing for equity. On a more personal note, I’ve joined a gravel bike club called the Petunia Mafia, am co-organizing the Fairview [High School] mountain bike team and have been making quilts.â€
What are you grateful for in your time at the School of Education?Â
“I miss the School of Education—the wonderful colleagues, the fantastic staff and, of course, the students! I cherish the close friendships I built there and am grateful for the support I felt pursuing my research interests. For so many years, the School of Education felt like home, especially when it came to STEM Education. Plus, I believe the School of Education faculty are some of the humblest and most dedicated people in the field of educational research—their excellence truly shines in the work! This goes for our students as well.â€