Student Accomplishments
Current Students
Kimmy P. Ma, '28 (anticipated)
Kimmy Ma is an experiential learning specialist, curriculum designer, and a current doctoral student in the Ed.D. Program at Molloy University. With over 20 years of experience in arts education and creative marketing, she integrates interdisciplinary approaches to foster social connection, autonomy, and community-driven learning. Kimmy's research focuses on long-term visual arts engagement and the SAM (Social Artistic Model), exploring how creative practices build belonging and identity. She has also served in leadership roles across higher education and multicultural brand marketing, bringing strategic vision and inclusive pedagogy to every space she enters.
Kimmy’s work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI)
and human-centered artifacts. Exploring the implementation of the Social
Artistic Model (SAM), as a guiding framework, this research highlights social
connectedness, magnifies the art-making process, and empowers meaning-making through divergent perspectives and socially embedded processes. The zone of Reciprocity in SAM facilitates a shared creative, collaborative environment and enables iterative critique and contemplation. Findings demonstrate that AI can enhance creative exploration but cannot replicate the emotional resonance and social bonds central to long-term artistic practices and quality interactions. SAM offers a dialogic process “where art is a growth catalyst and social connection is a platform that promotes self-discovery, norm awareness and belonging through reflective action cycles."
Kimmy has presented her research, “Art Teaching, Social Connection, and AI: Bridging Creativity with Art Praxis ", at multiple conferences including:
Innovative Schools Summit, Nashville, Tennessee- July 2025
Human Transformation In a Time Of Metacrisis at Harvard Graduate School of Education, May, 2025
Society of Information Technology and Teachers Education (SITE) Conference, Orlando, Florida-March 2025
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)- March 2025
Upcoming: American Education Studies Association, AESA Annual Conference, October 2025
Anthony A. Grant, '26 (anticipated)
Anthony Grant is pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Diverse Learning Communities at Molloy University, specializing in mathematical fluency, special education, and co-teaching strategies. In addition to his studies, he serves as a high school Intervention/504 Coordinator in a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Anthony's recent article, Interactive Literacy Manual for Pre-Service Teachers' Use in Their Professional Practice was published in SCOPE - Journal for Leadership and Instruction, December 2024. The article discussed his study which explored how the integration of a project based learning (PBL) activity in an undergraduate teacher preparatory childhood literacy class impacted teacher candidates' knowledge of, and readiness to teach instructional literacy strategies.
Astrid Emily Francis, '29 (anticipated)
Astrid Emily Francis is a nationally recognized English as a Second Language teacher at Concord High School in Concord, North Carolina. She serves students at various English proficiency levels. Emily is originally from Guatemala and her experience as an English Language Learner inspired her to become an ESL teacher. This affords her a deep understanding of the challenges her students must overcome to succeed. Emily earned a BA in Spanish and a MAT in ESL from UNC-Charlotte. She serves as a professional development facilitator, motivational and keynote speaker. Emily is part of UNC-Charlotte College of Education’s Advisory Board. Emily served as teacher liaison to the Cabarrus County Board of Education as a district Teacher of the Year in 2016.
Emily is the author of : If You Only Knew: Letters from an Immigrant Teacher (in English and Spanish) and Milly’s Journey Picture Books Series.
As a leader, Emily’s focus is to inspire students to dream more, learn more, do more, and become
more.