Dr. Hengameh Kermani

Hengameh Kermani joined the faculty at UNCW in 1995, and has served as coordinator of WCE’s Education of Young Children program for nearly three decades. She will retire in June.

Faculty, staff and students attended a celebration in her honor on April 16.

“Dr. Kermani has committed her life’s work to improving educational practices to serve all young children,” said Watson College Dean Linderholm. “She recognizes the importance of family and culture in emerging literacy, and her work on STEM in pre-kindergarten paves the way for twenty-first century learning. Her professionalism sets a high bar for our students, demonstrating the value of early foundational advocacy and its power to unlock children’s potential. Hengameh, we wish you all the best in your retirement. Thank you for your wonderful contributions to Watson!” 

Dr. Kermani holds a degree in Developmental Psychology and Sociology, an MA in Early Childhood Education and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology: Early Childhood Education, all from the University of California Santa Barbara. She began her career as an early childhood educator at UCSB’s Children’s Center. While at UNCW, she has been a champion of WCE’s EYC program and an active member of early childhood organizations at the local, state and national level.

At the retirement celebration, EYC faculty members Jes Fyall Cardenas and Sara Movahedazarhouligh, and current and former students  – including Leslie Moore (Rogers), Suzie Townsend (DeVictor) and Heather Raynor, who were part of Dr. Kermani’s very first graduating class in the 1990’s – described her as a passionate educator, a strong mentor and a good friend. 

“Hengameh's retirement reception was a pleasant reflection of the peace that always surrounds her: Hengameh is warm, kind, and welcoming,” Dr. Cardenas said. “What a testament to her tenure at UNCW with the Education of Young Children program she started!”

“Hengameh is an incredible scholar, teacher, and community advocate in the field of early childhood,” Cardenas added. “What I think she does best is step into the moment with others. Just as you would expect someone to have patience with a young child, encouraging their discovery and engendering peace - Hengameh does just that for her colleagues and students. She is present and purposeful, and she will certainly be missed!”

Dr. Kermani is an avid traveler. She has led several international field experiences providing students with meaningful opportunities to visit and engage in educational settings in England, Kuwait and Sweden. Hengameh believes that global educational experiences are among the most impactful forms of learning, not only for students, who gain broader perspectives on teaching and learning across cultures, but also for faculty, who deepen their own professional growth through cross-cultural collaboration and reflection. She said she is looking forward to her first visit to Japan on her last UNCW study abroad trip later this summer.

Thank you, Dr. Kermani, for your passion, your leadership and your friendship. Happy travels!