Reading has always been part of Kevin Greene’s life, thanks to his mother, who filled their home with books and an appreciation for learning.
He later discovered that his mother, a warehouse employee who worked long shifts, struggled to decode words. Her challenges with reading inspired Greene to study literacy, so he could help students translate sounds into letters and fall in love with reading.
“I always appreciated the sacrifices that my mom made for my brother and me. Because education was so important to her, it became important to us,” said Greene, a Cal State Fullerton student, who is graduating with a Master of Science in literacy and reading education. “My mom is the smartest woman I know.”
The first in his family to earn a college degree, Greene chose to pursue his graduate studies in CSUF’s College of Education because of its flexible degree programs for students who work full-time and its strong emphasis on just, equitable and inclusive education.
As a student who identifies as African American, Latino and LGBTQ, it was important to “find a university that had all of the values that I hold so deeply in my heart,” he said. At Cal State Fullerton, he felt “seen, heard and acknowledged.”
After graduation, Greene will be applying the lessons he learned at CSUF as a literacy specialist for a K-12 school that serves neurodivergent students.
Some of his key takeaways from the master’s program, which he calls “through the roof” in terms of quality, include learning to find students’ motivations, staying up to date on the latest research in literacy science and being an active advocate for all students.
“Literacy opens doors to students’ voices, stories and dreams,” said Madeleine Mejia, associate professor of literacy and reading education. “Kevin brings that vision to life with heart, curiosity and care. I have witnessed him grow as a teacher-scholar, honoring each student’s identity and potential.”
On campus, Greene gained hands-on experience working with students in the Hazel Miller Croy Reading Center, which provides reading and literacy assessments to school-age children in the community and supports educators in improving students’ literacy skills.
Greene is the recipient of the Carr Fellowship, named for the late Professor Emeritus of Education and Economics Edwin R. Carr, and the Dr. Greta Nagel Scholarship, named in honor of an alum and longtime educator who received her M.S. in education from CSUF.
Greene credits faculty like Mejia for teaching him to think critically about the teaching process, collaborate with other educators and never doubt himself.
“What stands out about CSUF is the professors and the community you build,” he said. “Here, I gained confidence, which is something that I’ve always struggled with.”
With aspirations to continue his educational journey, Greene shared that his students are his greatest motivation.
“My favorite book is ‘The Giving Tree’ by Shel Silverstein,” he said. “The beauty of the book is that the tree was always there. I love being that constant for my students.”