Two Reich College of Education (RCOE) students have been inducted into the Cratis D. Williams Society of Outstanding Graduates:
- Nikki Proctor
- Tyler Young
The society is designed to include each year’s top graduates of the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School at Appalachian State University – approximately the top 2%. Students are chosen based on their academic performance, their engagement in their discipline, and their potential for leadership.
Nikki Proctor
Nikki Proctor, originally from Clinton, North Carolina, completed her Bachelor of Arts in political science with a concentration in secondary social studies education from North Carolina State University and her Master of Science in counselor education from East Carolina University. She will graduate with her Doctorate in educational leadership in May 2024.
Proctor chose to pursue a doctorate so that “I could position myself for future career advancement and to satisfy my lifelong love of learning.”
After spending time in the High Country area, she had an affinity for App State. “As a product and proponent of public education, it was important to me that my doctoral degree come from a UNC System institution.”
She added, “Ultimately, it was the flexibility afforded by the Ed.D. program’s online delivery method that sold me on the institution.”
Proctor is “honored by the Reich College of Education’s recognition of my hard work and commitment to educational leadership.”
She plans to continue working in her current role while pursuing opportunities to continue researching and writing about issues facing public education and educational leadership.
Tyler Young
After graduating from App State in 2022 with his Bachelor of Science in psychology, Tyler Young, originally from Apex, North Carolina, will graduate this May with a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling.
“I decided to get a graduate degree because I want to be able to connect with the community and to serve those around me as a mental health counselor, and in order to begin that work I needed my degree,” noted Young.
“I chose the M.A. in clinical mental health counseling at App due to its emphasis and focus on advocacy, community connectedness, diversity, and extensive professional development, as well as getting the privilege to work with some of the top counselors in the field within my time here,” Young added.
“This award means the world to me and proves that the years of hard work, taking on leadership opportunities, and constant willingness to dive in can be worthy of celebrating,” said Young. “It also is so honoring and humbling to be selected and nominated by the faculty of my program that I’ve had the esteemed pleasure of working and growing alongside throughout this program.”
Young’s next steps after graduating are to move back home with his partner and to begin stepping into his role as a newly licensed clinical mental health counselor associate in the Raleigh area.
Cratis Inductees
