Alumni Excellence in Education Award
The Alumni Excellence in Education Award (AEEA) is the highest honor bestowed by the Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE). This prestigious award celebrates the exceptional contributions of GSE alumni who demonstrate excellence in the field of education, embodying its values and advancing its impact. Join us in recognizing those who are making a lasting difference in the lives of students, our communities, and the broader educational landscape.
We welcome alumni and friends to the Alumni Excellence in Education Award (AEEA) Ceremony & Reception to celebrate our award honorees. Each year, we host the event on the Friday evening of Reunion Homecoming.
If you are affiliated with the GSE and are interested in attending the event, please contact Marly Solebello at marlys@stanford.edu.
ANNOUNCING THE 2026 ALUMNI EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD HONOREES
Mike Taubman, BA ’04, MA ’05
Stanford Teacher Education Program
MIKE TAUBMAN is a teacher and leader at North Star Academy in Newark, NJ, since 2005. He directs Uncommon Schools' new Innovation Studio, centered on the purpose development and career-connected learning program he runs for 100 upperclassmen every day. He codesigned and co-teaches Uncommon School’s "AI Driver's License" elective course and helps steer AI strategy for 20,000 students and 2,000 teachers across 52 schools. A former Stanford Digital Education Fellow, his work has been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, and enjoys time with his daughters and naps in the summertime.
Suzanne Grant Lewis, PhD ’88
International Development Education
SUZANNE GRANT LEWIS is an accomplished leader in international education policy and planning. She is a judge for the Yidan Prize Foundation, which recognizes change makers in education research and practice. She led UNESCO’s International Institute for Education Planning for seven years as its first female director. Suzanne is dedicated to improving equitable access to quality education. Her dedication to fostering collaboration and community is evident through her leadership of the seven-foundation Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, the International Education Funders Group and the technical international working group that developed appraisal methods for nonacademic evidence. In addition to her professional pursuits, Suzanne cherishes family, friends, swimming, and pursuing new learning opportunities.
Julian Vasquez Heilig, PhD ’06
Administration and Policy Analysis
JULIAN VASQUEZ HEILIG is an accomplished education scholar, former provost and dean, and current professor of educational leadership, research, and technology at Western Michigan University. He has successfully served in seven academic leadership positions, has authored nearly 80 scholarly works, and was recognized for a decade among Education Week’s top 200 U.S. education scholars. Julian is dedicated to advancing educational equity and opportunity and actively engages in leadership and advisory roles with the NAACP, educational organizations, foundations, political campaigns, and community groups. His commitment to inclusive excellence is evident through his scholarship, policy advocacy, and public scholarship, including his widely read Cloaking Inequity blog and the LinkedIn newsletter Without Fear or Favor, which together reached nearly 2 million readers over the past year. In addition to his professional pursuits, Julian enjoys traveling and has visited nearly 80 countries around the world.
“AEEA offers a chance to reflect on the collective impact that GSE alumni have had on education and the communities they serve. For over a decade, we’ve had the opportunity to publicly recognize and celebrate alumni for achievements ranging from being exceptional teachers here in California to transforming entire school systems in faraway nations.”
Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Educational Technology
The Halper Family Faculty Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning
