Hometown: Torrance, CA 

Class Year: 2021 (Junior)

Favorite Education Studies class: To be very honest, my favorite 'Education Class' has been something outside of the department: Artful Teaching by Professor Patricia Sobral in POBS. But I also enjoyed Adolescence in a Social Context and Creating Schools. 

What drew you to study education?
I began to be really interested in education as a career field during my senior year of high school. I was always frustrated with how the quality of schools could be so different even if they are so close geographically. I wondered why something that was supposed to equalize people was actually pushing people down. Then, I discovered that there is such a thing as an Education major! I can study this in college! I decided I wanted to study Education and here we are. 

What has been your favorite part of this concentration as a whole?
The professors have been very supportive and kind to me. They support my goal to be a secondary school teacher--this has allowed me to continue with my passion. I've also enjoyed writing prompts in various classes that allowed me to reflect on the education that I received, and being able to view it with a critical lens. 

What are you planning to do after graduation?
I want to do the Brown MAT Program in secondary math education. After that, I want to work as a high school math teacher. Providence is a possible place to start. I'm also interested in teaching back in the Los Angeles area. 

What is it like to be a DUG leader?
I feel even closer to the people in the department. Also, it brightens me up when I talk to first-years interested in education! There's a lot the department has to offer and I'm glad I get to promote it. 

Have you had any cool education projects/ internships during your time at Brown?
In the summer between my first and second year at Brown, I went to the HABLA Teacher Institute held in Merida, Mexico. There, I got to meet passionate educators from the United States and Mexico who are positively impacting students lives through integrating the arts into their curriculum. I was moved by the energy and care that these teachers had for their students--I knew I wanted to be just like them.

I am most passionate about… creative teaching for English Language Learners. I'm especially interested in creative math pedagogy that is both culturally-responsive and ELL-friendly. The intersection between math and language education is something that excites me.

— interview by Peyton Strong '22