The Education and HDFS Graduate Association (EGA) is the official student organization of full- and part-time graduate students at the University of Delaware’s School of Education and Department  of Human Development and Family Sciences. Officers are elected to EGA each year for a one-year term. Students are granted membership in this association upon acceptance to the School, and its officers are elected from among your peers and colleagues.

The EGA serves as a link to news, information, and events within the school that affects graduate students. It also serves as an advocate and representative to the faculty and administration of the School on matters ranging from quality of life to programs and advising. The EGA also holds events throughout the semester. Check the event calendar for upcoming activities and connect with them on Facebook.

2017-18 Education Graduate Association Officers

President: John Strong

John Strong is a third-year Ph.D. student in Education with a specialization in Literacy Development and Learning Problems. He holds a B.A. in English Education and a M.Ed. in Reading from the University of Delaware. He previously taught 9th grade English language arts and AP Literature & Composition at Dover High School for five years. Currently, he is teaching EDUC 437 and EDUC 622 in the School of Education. He formerly served as a research assistant for Dr. Sharon Walpole. His research interests include integrated reading and writing interventions with text structure instruction for adolescent struggling readers in grades 4-12.

Vice President: Laura Cutler

Laura Cutler has been in the field of early childhood for over ten years. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland. Laura previously taught kindergarten and first grade in the Florida public school system, and most recently served as a Program Coordinator for Delaware’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, Delaware Stars. Laura is currently a third-year Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Sciences, and her research interests focus jointly on children’s literature and gender identity development in early childhood. She explores how children’s literature shapes identity development, particularly in regard to gender identity development, and investigates various aspects of the home literacy environment.

Secretary: Soumita Basu

Soumita Basu was born and raised in West Bengal, India. She is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Learning Sciences specialization. Her research interests involve understanding argumentative writing, assessment of learners’ argumentation skills, and augmenting learning experiences using technological solutions. Prior to this program, she received her Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the University of Delaware. She currently works as a Research Assistant for an ETS-funded project under the supervision of Dr. Ralph Ferretti. She is elated to serve as the Secretary of EGA.

Treasurer: Aly Englert

Aly Englert is a first-year Ph.D. student in Economics Education. She holds B.A.s in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Merced and a M.S. in Resource and Applied Economics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her research interests involve evaluating programs and strategies to increase retention in higher education, as well as the impact of personal finance education on student loan borrowing behavior.