MaryEllen Woycik joins the Department of Education as the Academic Programs Manager and will work closely with undergraduate concentrators and graduate students in the Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Urban Education Policy (UEP) programs. Prior to Education, she worked in the University’s Physics Department.

Welcome to the Education Department! What are you most looking forward to in your new role as Academic Programs Manager?

Getting to know the students in the department! Brown University students are immensely talented, engaging and interesting - I look forward to meeting the undergraduate concentrators and the graduate students in the MAT and UEP programs and hearing their stories. 

You're currently working toward your M.Ed. in Higher Education. Are there any important lessons from your graduate studies that you'll bring with you to this position?

Yes, certainly - every class I have taken introduces a new lesson or perspective on higher education. We have discussed student social identities, remaining open minded, and creating space for active listening. Creating community informs how I approach my work, so these topics all resonate with me.

You've been at Brown University for seven years. What's your favorite part about working for the University?

I am immensely curious and enjoy discovering what is happening in and around Brown in research, in programs, and in the buildings. One of my favorite visits last year was a visit to Ladd Observatory to learn about ancient time keeping and the cosmos! 

FUN FACTS

What's your happy place? 

West Dennis Beach in Massachusetts!

What's your favorite part about or place in Providence? 

Running on Blackstone Boulevard

What common thing have you never done before? 

Drank a cup of coffee

What book has had a significant impact on you? 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, or a more current one is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

What is something that people find surprising about you?

I lived in England for a couple years with my family ten years ago.

What is your "superpower" -- your hidden talent or unique skill? 

This is a bit of a family joke but I have a very sensitive inner ear which makes me very susceptible to motion sickness. My family refers to it as my 'superpower' - able to detect motion when no other mortal does.