Xyanthe Neider
Xyanthe Neider’s tumultuous childhood could not have been a predictor she would be graduating with a doctorate degree in education. She attended 12 schools by 10th grade as a child. At the age of 15 she left home and at 16 years old, Neider dropped out of school. At one point, Neider was homeless with her first child.
Because of her intellectual curiosity, abilities and encouragement from her family, Neider was able to enroll in community college and further her education. She completed her GED and received her associate degree. Neider then enrolled as an undergraduate student at Washington State University. Since then, she has earned her bachelor’s and her master’s degrees.
While enrolled at WSU, Neider taught classes, cared for her ailing grandmother, and parented her two children. She was president of the Education Graduate Organization. In 2008, Neider won a graduate student paper award from the American Educational Research Association in curriculum and cultural studies. That same year, she won a WSU Women of Distinction Award. Neider also won a third place Wiley Symposium Award from the Graduate Professional Student Organization. She is the author and co-author of several scientific papers.
Neider wrote a strong dissertation focused on students of Middle Eastern heritages and their experiences on an American college campus in a post-9/11 context. She hopes her work will initiate conversations and create more welcoming spaces on college campuses for students.
After graduation, Neider hopes to continue her career in education and become a professor.
Highlight Student
 College: Education |
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Degree: Doctorate in higher education administration |
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High School: La Conner High School, La Conner, Wash. |
| Other Schools Attended: Skagit Valley Community College, Mount Vernon, Wash., GED, 1989 and associate degree, 1994; Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and Bachelor of Arts in sociology, 1997, and Master of Arts in higher education administration, 2005 |
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Career Goal: To become a professor in education |
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Parents: Linda and Leslie Lockrem of La Conner, Wash. |
| Family: Son Clayton Sprouse, and daughter Sydney Atchinson, both of Pullman, Wash. |