Jaye Wilson ’25 took the national stage last week at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) annual conference in Albuquerque, N.M., joining faculty and alumni on a panel that captured the spirit of Guilford’s community-centered approach to education.

The session, titled “Communion, Compassion, and the Color Purple: Enacting Social Justice in a Small Campus Community,” explored how a close-knit liberal arts environment can inspire authentic reflection and collective transformation. The all-Guilford panel featured Samantha Rummage-Massey ‘13, Director for Bonner and Ethical Leadership Fellows, CAPE Adviser LaKeisha Williams, Associate Professor for Education Studies Anna Pennell, and Jaye, with Jocelyn Foshay ’17 serving as discussant. Expenses for participation in the conference by the Guilford delegation were covered by gift funding and other sources.

For Jaye, one of the few undergraduate presenters at the national gathering, the experience was both exhilarating and affirming. “It was such a great week — just being in community with people who all have the same genuine desire to do right by students,” says Jaye. “There were a lot of graduate and doctoral students there, so as an undergraduate it was an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and see how my work fits into the larger educational landscape.”

Those connections are already bearing fruit. Jaye met a group of students from the University of Texas at Arlington who presented on teaching American slavery in schools. The group from Texas sat in on Guilford’s presentation. “When they heard about our work — and the fact that we have the Underground Railroad Tree — they were really interested in visiting Guilford to continue the conversation,” says Jaye, who graduates next month with a degree in Theatre Studies. Plans are underway to collaborate with their faculty advisor and Guilford’s own faculty and staff.

Reflecting on what makes Guilford distinct, Jaye pointed to the College’s shared sense of purpose. “There’s a genuine care for our core values,” Jaye says, “not just from students, but from professors and staff. At Guilford, those values aren’t just buzzwords. We hold each other accountable to them. That’s what makes this community special.”

Despite challenges facing educators today, Jaye said the conference rekindled the group’s optimism. “Being in education right now can feel pretty hopeless,” Jaye said. “But meeting all these people — hearing why they do what they do — gave me hope again. It reminded me why I want to teach, and why the work we do at Guilford matters.”

Participation in the AESA conference underscores Guilford College’s enduring commitment to social justice, critical inquiry, and community-based education — values that continue to shape students like Jaye Wilson into compassionate scholars, educators, and change agents.