ASU again among top contributors to Teach for America
Photo by Kali9/iStock
Arizona State University is again one of the top universities in the country for contributing campus leaders to Teach for America’s corps, whose members work in rural and urban communities across the country to ensure that every child has an education.
Of the more than 2,300 incoming corps members for 2025, who hail from 652 schools, ASU ranked second for most contributed members for 2025, ahead of UCLA, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Illinois.
“Teach For America is one of many ways our graduates bring ASU’s charter to life by leading with purpose and serving with impact,” said Joanne Vogel, vice president of student services with Educational Outreach and Student Services.
“ASU’s standing among the nation’s top three universities for Teach for America participation reflects our commitment to expanding educational access and success. Each year, Sun Devils step into classrooms across the country, teaching in communities where they are needed most.
“We’re proud that so many of our graduates choose this path of service and leadership, strengthening both student success and our nation’s future workforce,” she added.
By joining Teach for America, ASU students launch their careers while prioritizing community service and leadership, heading into high-needs schools across the country to create lasting impact.
“ASU is consistently one of the top contributors to TFA’s teaching corps, which comes as no surprise,” said Veronica Aguilar, vice president of recruitment at Teach for America. “ASU’s charter, ‘to be measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed,’ is reflected in the remarkable leaders it prepares. We see those values carried into the classroom every day. It’s been a strong, long-term partnership, and we look forward to continuing to welcome more Sun Devils in the future.”
ASU graduate student Chloe Merriweather, who earned her undergraduate degree in graphic design with minors in fashion and in marketing and sales, is pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education. This year, she entered into Teach for America, finding the corps’ mission aligned with her personal values.
“As I approached my graduation in spring 2025, I noticed many of my peers struggling to find direction in careers related to our degrees,” Merriweather said. “I knew I didn’t want to enter a traditional nine-to-five job without a real sense of purpose. I wanted to make an impact, find community and feel connected to something meaningful after college.”
Now, she finds fulfillment in teaching sixth grade English language arts and social studies at Larry C. Kennedy School in Phoenix.
“The most rewarding part of being in the classroom has been hearing directly from students and their families about the positive changes they’ve seen this year,” Merriweather said. “Parents have shared that their children are more eager to come to school and have developed a renewed excitement for learning. Hearing that my class has become a space where students feel motivated and supported has been incredibly meaningful.”
She said that Teach for America makes a difference in students’ lives by approaching education through compassion and equity rather than seeing students as statistics.
“I would absolutely recommend Teach for America to my fellow Sun Devils, not only because it can further their education, but because it offers profound personal growth,” she said. “Through Teach for America, I’ve built connections in places I never would have expected, including a sixth grade classroom full of students who make me laugh, challenge me and inspire me every day. Teach for America has opened doors to a career path I might never have discovered otherwise.”
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