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Celebration of Education Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2026 Celebration of Education award recipients who will be celebrated at the annual Celebration of Education ceremony on April 15, 2026. 

Below is a spotlight on the latest honorees whose work exemplifies the spirit and standards of excellence we cherish at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV. 

Sharon McCoy Carver

Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Teaching Professor, Psychology 
Emeritus Director, Children’s School

Across more than three decades of transformative leadership, Sharon Carver has shaped the educational landscape of Carnegie Mellon from preschool to the doctoral level. As the director of the Children’s School for over 30 years, she established a nationally respected model of research-driven early childhood education that serves as a vital laboratory for learning science. Her influence extends deep into graduate education as the co-founder and co-director of the PIER program, where she has mentored more than 100 doctoral students across 15 departments, preparing a generation of scholars to lead in academia and industry.

Carver’s recent work includes the creation and implementation of Dietrich College’s new General Education Program, a feat colleagues describe as a masterclass in translating learning-science principles into an outcomes-driven curriculum. Whether she is reviewing student research proposals or guiding faculty in evidence-based course design, Carver is known as the glue of her educational communities. Her students consistently describe her as a force of nature and a transformative educator who equips them with the practical tools and empathy needed to build inclusive learning environments worldwide.

Associate Teaching Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering

Gregory Kesden has dedicated over 25 years to fostering excellence in systems education across the College of Engineering, the School of Computer Science, and the Information Networking Institute. As the lead architect of major course redesigns for foundational classes, Kesden modernized core curricula to reflect the rapid evolution of machine learning, embedded systems and cryptography. He is credited with originating Electrical and Computer Engineering’s small-group instructional model and for his rapid transformation of laboratory environments during the pandemic, which ensured that hands-on learning remained rigorous and engaging for remote students.

Beyond his technical contributions, Kesden is defined by his unmatched availability and advocacy for student well-being. He founded a targeted academic support program for students in distress and is known for personally escorting students to campus resources when they are in need. A mentor to hundreds of teaching assistants, he leads huddles that promote leadership and community-building among student instructors.

University Professor and Paul Mellon Chair in Architecture
College of Fine Arts

In her 40-year career at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV, Vivian Loftness has provided sustained and compassionate mentorship to hundreds of individuals, including more than 150 master’s students and 45 doctoral candidates. A globally recognized leader in sustainable design, Loftness creates research opportunities that allow students to work at the forefront of environmental decarbonization. Former students frequently credit her guidance for their success in securing tenure, winning competitive grants and transitioning into high-impact roles in government and industry.

Loftness is equally committed to the growth of junior faculty, providing strategic and confidential guidance in research and leadership that helped six faculty members through the tenure process during her headship. Known for fostering a culturally welcoming environment, she famously hosts traditions like the Intelligent Workplace International Food Festival to build community among international students. Mentees describe her as a life-changing presence whose belief in their potential gave them the confidence to lead with integrity.

Michael Young

Associate Dean for Community Engagement, Mellon College of Science 
Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences

Michael Young has built one of the most comprehensive and equity-centered outreach portfolios at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV, focused on strengthening the STEM pipeline for learners that have been historically excluded. He is the lead architect of the math curriculum for the Summer Academy for Math & Science (SAMS) and the founder of MEDAL, which has provided MathEquity training for teachers and academic support for CMU’s Tartan Scholars program. His leadership extends nationally through the ASCEND Mentor Network, a $1.2 million NSF-funded initiative that has provided mentoring and professional development for underrepresented postdoctoral fellows in the sciences.

As associate dean, Young has institutionalized outreach within the Mellon College of Science by shaping policies that reward faculty engagement and community-based learning. He also plays a key role in the Rales Fellows Program, which removes financial barriers to obtaining advanced degrees and provides fellows with holistic support. A highly accomplished researcher in combinatorics, Young uses a signature Socratic approach to build agency and confidence in his mentees. His work has earned him deep community trust and national recognition as a leader in diversifying the mathematical sciences.

Senior Academic Advisor for Undergraduate Studies, School of Architecture 
Associate Adjunct Faculty
College of Fine Arts

For two decades, Heather Workinger Midgley has provided individualized guidance to nearly 300 architecture undergraduates annually, navigating them through one of the university’s most rigorous programs. Heather pioneered CMU’s first group-advising seminar—a model that has since been replicated across the university—to foster early student belonging and transparency. She is a relentless advocate for students in crisis, with faculty and staff across the university relying on her proactive communication and expert judgment to support students facing medical or personal challenges.

Beyond her work with students, Heather is a mentor to fellow advisors, shaping onboarding processes and strengthening cross-college advising networks. She has developed comprehensive wellness infrastructure, including pet therapy and early alert systems, that serves as a model for other departments. Students describe her office as a safe, validating space where they feel empowered to define their own academic and personal goals, regardless of how complex their paths may be.

Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering 
College of Engineering

Coty Jen is highly praised by her colleagues and students for her pioneering work in modernizing the chemical engineering curriculum through a partnership with a local environmental organization, bringing real-world sustainability problems to the classroom. Through this collaboration, she challenges students to model chemically reacting systems in the context of pressing regional and global environmental problems. Her approach transforms abstract reaction modeling into tangible, meaningful work on challenges that span from local ecosystems to worldwide sustainability concerns. Equally distinctive is her commitment to involving former students in shaping the curriculum and giving them hands-on experience crafting learning objectives and developing project ideas. Her teaching innovation ensures the course continues to reflect the evolving needs of both learners and the broader community.

Luis Garcia

Ph.D. Candidate,
Transition Design 
College of Fine Arts

Luis Garcia is celebrated for his "quiet yet profound" influence on the teaching culture at Carnegie Mellon. Faculty mentors rank him among the most effective educators they have encountered, noting his rare ability to balance rigorous academic expertise with deep compassion. Garcia is particularly recognized for creating a collaborative classroom atmosphere where students feel empowered to share their own identities and positionalities. His commitment to iterative practice and his role as a senior teaching consultant fellow at the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation further highlight his dedication to elevating the educational experience for his peers and students alike.

Carolina Colombo Tedesco

Ph.D. Candidate,
Chemical Engineering 
College of Engineering

Carolina Colombo Tedesco is honored for her extensive and sustained leadership in enhancing the graduate student experience within the Department of Chemical Engineering and across CMU. She is credited with building a high-impact support program for prospective Ph.D. applicants and establishing an alumni mentorship network that provides vital career guidance to her peers. Known as a "motivated, thoughtful and passionate" leader, Carolina has also designed specialized seminars to help first-year students develop essential computational and writing skills. Her work has been recognized nationally, further cementing her reputation as an exceptional advocate for inclusion and student well-being.