As Michigan State University enjoys its annual Homecoming celebrations, four Spartans will have extra reason to yell, “Go Green!”
“We are honored to celebrate these Spartans, not only for what they do, but for who they are,” said Tonya Frisbey, senior director of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. “It is a joy and a privilege to welcome our alums back to campus and uplift their achievements with this award. Congratulations to all our awardees.”
Four alums from the College of Education will receive the annual College of Education Alumni Awards, honoring their contributions to their field and community and their lasting Spartan legacies. The awards honor one graduate from each of the college’s four academic departments.
The honorees of the third annual CED Alumni Awards are:
- Gwen K. Wyatt, B. ‘69 (Teacher Education Admin), M.A. ‘73 (Elementary Education) and Ph.D. ‘88 (Educational Psychology)
- Philomena V. Mantella, Ph.D. ‘90 (College and University Administration)
- LaToya M. Thompson, B.S. ‘05 (Kinesiology)
- Sarah DiMaria, TCRT ‘13 (Secondary – Mathematics, Physics and Integrated Science) and M.A. ‘17 (Teaching and Curriculum)
Gwen K. Wyatt (Awardee: Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education)
MSU, Wyatt reflected, was a “family tradition.” Growing up, Wyatt was involved in 4-H and came to campus each summer for the exhibitions. She comes from a community-based background: her father was a village miller, and her mother, also a teacher, operated the feed and seed store. So when it came time for college, Wyatt continued the family tradition, following her two brothers to MSU, where she became an educator, teaching elementary school in two small towns, while earning a master’s degree.
Wyatt commented, “This early small-town start led to my passion for supporting other CED students from rural backgrounds.”
As time went on, Wyatt “combine[d] my teaching background with nursing and an RN and MSN [programs] in the Detroit area.” The MSU College of Nursing hired her soon after, in 1980.
Over the next 45 years, Wyatt completed a third degree (a Ph.D.) at MSU and has served as principal investigator on nine completed studies, totaling over $10 million. She has maintained a continually funded research program since 1996. Today, she is professor emerita and senior scientist at the MSU College of Nursing and co-investigator on a National Cancer Institute grant, “providing nature-based meditations as supportive care for bereaved cancer caregivers.” Wyatt is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, a Fellow of the American Psychological Oncology Society, among other licenses and certifications. She has been an educator since 1969 and a registered nurse in Michigan since 1975.
Philomena V. Mantella (Awardee: Department of Educational Administration)
Mantella is the fifth president and first female president of Grand Valley State University (GVSU), Michigan's third-largest public university. Her path to leadership can draw its roots in a conversation with her advisor, Louis Hekhuis. Hekhuis recommended Mantella pursue a concentration in business affairs to expand her already in-depth student affairs knowledge. That, in addition to a dissertation on equity, helped launch Mantella to a series of increasing responsibilities in postsecondary education.
Mantella held leadership roles at Ferris State University (MI), the State University of New York’s College of Optometry, Farleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Pace University (NY), and Northeastern University (MA) before joining GVSU in 2019.
Under her leadership, “GVSU has ... launched innovative programs designed to serve non-traditional, underrepresented and adult learners. These efforts have resulted in increased enrollment and some of the largest, most diverse incoming classes in the university’s history,” according to GVSU’s website.
In addition, Mantella also serves on boards for the Federal Reserve Board of Chicago (Detroit Branch), Corewell Health (Michigan’s largest employer), The Economic Club of Grand Rapids, The CEO Center, the American Council on Education, the Business-Higher Ed Forum and the Michigan Association of State Universities.
In Fall 2021, Mantella was the fall speaker for the College of Education’s Raines Colloquium.
LaToya M. Thompson (Awardee: Department of Kinesiology)
Fall is a special season for Thompson, who said that “football Saturdays” are amongst her fondest memories as a student at MSU. She reflected that “the energy, the school spirit and the excitement of being a Spartan are memories I’ll always cherish.”
Thompson found joy in many experiences at MSU, including an adaptive sports-focused class in which she helped individuals with disabilities learn, participate in and enjoy different sports. The class still exists today in nearly the same format as the Sport Skills Program.
“Seeing the joy and confidence on the [participants’] faces was incredibly rewarding and brought me just as much joy,” Thompson remembered. “I also loved assisting my fellow students as they learned how to teach, adapt and create inclusive experiences.”
The class, and the entire Kinesiology program, “laid the foundations” for Thompson finding her career path. She is currently a senior physical therapist at the Detroit Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, where she specializes in sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation.
In addition, Thompson serves as founder and CEO of Opulence Wines.
“My experience at Michigan State University taught me the value of leadership, service, resilience and creating opportunities for others,” Thompson added. “These values continue to guide my professional journey and my personal mission to empower future generations through healthcare, education and community engagement.”
Sarah DiMaria (Awardee: Department of Teacher Education)
DiMaria’s background in education and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) allowed her to chart new paths. DiMaria is a founding teacher at Cedars International Next Generation High School. The school opened in 2016, and DiMaria still serves there as an AP Calculus teacher, instructional coach and professional development coordinator. She also serves on the Texas Council of Mathematics and the Council of Presidential Award of Mathematics Executive Boards.
“I am passionate about ... supporting teachers to design rigorous, human-centered learning experiences that expand access and belonging in STEM, particularly for students historically pushed to the margins,” DiMaria explained.
A 2014 alum of the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation’s Fellowship, DiMaria was recognized by the state of Texas with the 2016 STEM Teacher of the Year Award. In 2022, she earned the Texas Academy of Sciences Outstanding Texas Educator Award. Nationally, DiMaria has twice (2021, 2023) been a Texas mathematics state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and, in 2021, received the PAEMST Mathematics National Award. She has trained teachers in China and Australia in project-based learning and has a book coming out later this year on the topic.
“MSU shaped my identity as an educator and a leader. I carry these values into every space where I support teachers and students.”
All photos courtesy of the 2026 awardees, except where noted.