January 2025

Dear GSE Alumni,

Happy New Year!

As I reflect on my first three months at the Graduate School of Education (GSE), I am amazed at how quickly time has flown. The start of the semester is already buzzing with activity, and in the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, I’ve been contemplating my goals for the year ahead. I’m eager to create more opportunities to connect with you and gather your feedback—insights that will help shape the trajectory of Alumni Relations at the GSE.

This month, I had the privilege of attending my first Health Equity Symposium on campus as part of Stanford’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. The event brought together expert voices from diverse fields—medicine, education, engineering, law, and sustainability—to address critical themes of equity and justice. These discussions resonate deeply with the GSE’s vision of “a world where all learners are prepared to thrive in a dynamic future.”

In his poignant speech “The Other America,” Dr. King articulated that “human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability.” Change requires dedicated effort, collaboration, and community engagement. It requires all of us.

This spring, you can help us celebrate our exceptional role models—leaders, innovators, pioneers, and advocates in our community—by nominating outstanding GSE alumni for the annual Alumni Excellence in Education Awards (AEEA). The call for nominations will open soon and must be submitted by March 31, 2025. 

We also want to continue celebrating our alumni through the GSE Game Changer initiative each month. Details about how to participate and win free GSE swag can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.

I look forward to an exciting year ahead and hope to meet you at our American Educational Research Association (AERA) Alumni Reception in Denver, CO, on Friday, April 25, or at one of our upcoming virtual or in-person events.

Thank you for being an integral part of the GSE community!

Warm wishes,

Marly

A: One! Purvi S. Mody received the Governor’s Award this year, thanks to her tremendous support as a long-standing volunteer in service to the university. Purvi received her master’s degree in education from the GSE in 1999, followed by an MBA from Stanford Business School in 2004. Since 1999, Purvi has been a college admissions counselor and helped thousands of students realize their educational dreams to attend some of the most prestigious universities in the world. She is the Co-founder and Head of College Counseling at Insight Education and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the GSE Alumni Board (GESAB). Congratulations, Purvi, on this well-deserved recognition!

Governors’ Awards are granted annually to Stanford Associates to honor exemplary and long-standing volunteer service to the university. If you would like to get more involved as a volunteer, drop me an email.

Stanford alumna assumes chair of the Stanford University Board of Trustees starting July 1.

Dean Dan Schwartz’s latest School’s In podcast is titled "Starting a Startup: What it Takes to Innovate in Education."  | Listen Here →

Stanford Continuing Studies: Winter courses are underway, view spring courses on February 10. | Read More →

Each month, we’re shaking things up with a fun challenge where your attention to detail, knowledge, and competitive spirit can win you exclusive GSE swag! Whether it's trivia, puzzles, or scavenger hunts, this is your chance to snag some awesome prizes. Get ready to play, have fun, and make a game-changing move! Don't miss out—it's the ultimate way to wrap up the newsletter each month.