Kade Turns the Pages Toward Tomorrow

SALISBURY, MD---For Kade Richardson, teaching started as “just for fun.” Today, it’s a calling—and a story they’re still writing.

Kade, of Bel Air, MD, majors in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Salisbury University, and they’re already shaping the next generation of readers. They light up when talking about story time in the classroom, where kids giggle over The Stinky Cheese Man or cheer for Bluey.

“Working with kids is so rewarding,” Kade said. “I love children’s literacy and outdoor education—hiking trails, state parks, beaches, exploring nature. There’s no better place for that than SU.”

Kade’s love of stories carried into their Honors experience at SU, where creativity and research go hand in hand. In HONR 211, they explored campus history at the Nabb Center and uncovered the stories of Black fraternities on campus decades ago. The research raised big questions: What makes a campus feel like home? Why did these students choose to stay and lead, even in the face of discrimination? Kade channeled those questions into something imaginative—a campus legend of their own.

“I didn’t even know the library’s fourth floor existed before that class,” Kade laughed. “Now it’s one of my favorite places.”

That curiosity opened doors to opportunities most students at other universities only dream about. As a freshman, Kade presented their research at conferences, wrote about Native American women in media, and analyzed reactions to Mary Fisher’s famous “A Whisper of AIDS” speech. After being a “COVID kid” in 10th grade, they said SU helped them open up and connect—with people, with opportunities, and with their true self.

Now, as a member of the Honors Association Executive Board, Kade helps new students find that same sense of belonging through game nights, holiday parties, and campus traditions.

“I love meeting freshmen and helping them feel at home,” they said. “Campus is so beautiful, but it’s the people who make it feel like home.”

Looking ahead, Kade is diving into their Honors capstone on a Stephen King novel written under his Richard Bachman pseudonym—a project that blends their love of literature with the creative freedom SU Honors provides.

“I can’t believe I get to do something like this before starting my career,” Kade said. “I got to conduct and present research as a freshman. How many undergrads at other universities can say that?”
Kade’s journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s taught them something important: growth happens outside your comfort zone.

“I was so scared as a freshman,” Kade said. “But every time I tried something new—whether it was taking a class on ghost stories or presenting at a conference or showing up to board game night—I grew so much. If you don’t want to do something, just try it anyway. You never know where it will lead.”