story by Claire Miller
How does education shape individuals’ identities and broader social structures?
This question was the heart of Narek Boyajian’s interest in the social foundations of education program in Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development (CEHD).
“My journey as a student and educator has been guided by a commitment to understanding how education can either reinforce systemic inequities or serve as a tool for personal intellectual growth and broader social change,” they said. “The social foundations program provided the interdisciplinary framework I needed to critically examine education’s role in society, culture and history.”
Boyajian manages a statewide coalition advocating for fair and full funding for Georgia’s public schools, and they appreciated the ability to continue working full-time while taking evening classes in the social foundations of education master’s program.
They also value the relationships they built with faculty members and fellow classmates, which have continued past graduation.
“I learned that intellectual growth is most powerful when it happens in community, where ideas are not only theorized but also put into action,” they said. The friendships and collaborations I formed continue to shape how I engage with my work today.”
Boyajian was recognized for their outstanding academic achievements at the College of Education & Human Development’s Honors Day Ceremony.
They are the 2025 recipient of the Social Foundations Master’s Thesis Award, which is given for “outstanding scholarly accomplishment by a master’s student in the social foundations program through the completion of an exceptional master’s thesis.”
“My thesis was a labor of love, grounded in my own lived experiences and a commitment to amplifying Armenian American resistance narratives,” they said. “To have my work recognized by faculty who I deeply respect affirmed the importance of the research I conducted.”
Boyajian is thankful the social foundations master’s program celebrates diverse perspectives in educational research and encourages students to think deeply about social issues.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the education I received in the social foundations program and for the professors and classmates who pushed me to think more critically and expansively,” they said. “This program has had a lasting impact on how I approach my work and scholarship.”