Forbes’ third-annual “30 Under 30" list tallies the brightest stars in 15 different fields under the age of 30.
National Education Association Student Program Chair David Tjaden, who received his Master of Arts from the UI College of Education in 2012, has been named to the list in the education sector for the second year in a row.
“The NEA Student Program has continued to evolve and improve as the preprofessional organization for educators; the Forbes honor is not directly reflective of my individual work, but is a testament of the impact our 60,000 members have in each of their communities,” says Tjaden, who received his Master of Arts in social studies education through the UI Department of Teaching and Learning.
Tjaden lobbied several members of Congress last fall to keep student loan interest rates low and led a group of NEA Student Program members and others in a college affordability rally on Capitol Hill. His goal during his two-year term is to highlight the voices of future educators and to ensure their voices are heard and valued in teacher prep programs, college affordability, and public education.
“We want the country’s best and brightest college students in our teacher preparation programs,” he says. “But we know it’s difficult to recruit those students into the teaching profession when they are going to be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.”
Tjaden continues to emphasize the importance of activism when delivering speeches and in meetings with NEA students and members throughout the country.
“Being a great teacher now also means being an advocate for our profession. It is my goal to ensure that our 60,000 members have the knowledge, skills, and tenacity to be the voices and leaders of our profession.”
—David Tjaden
“We are at a pivotal point in the discussion of who should lead the conversation about the direction of education in this country,” said Tjaden. “Being a great teacher now also means being an advocate for our profession. It is my goal to ensure that our 60,000 members have the knowledge, skills, and tenacity to be the voices and leaders of our profession.”
Tjaden, of Titonka, Iowa, attributes much of what he has accomplished to the inspiration and mentorship he received in the University of Iowa College of Education. “I thank you for providing me the knowledge, passion, and encouragement to work in education,” he says.
The NEA Student Program was founded in 1937 and now has nearly 60,000 members representing over 1,100 college/university campus chapters in 50 states.