What drew you to the UEP program at Brown?
I chose Brown for its emphasis on urban students, urban districts, and urban environments. I am a product of urban schools and have lived in urban environments my entire life, so I knew I wanted an experience that would allow me to think critically about influencing and radically changing systems to enact sustainable change. I did a lot of research on UEP. I was encouraged by the department’s commitment to developing students in an interdisciplinary nature and urban context and the intentional involvement across Rhode Island with the internship requirement. I also wanted to attend an Ivy League institution.
Insane fun fact: I never visited Rhode Island or Brown before starting the program in June 2021.
How did your undergraduate education and any previous work experience lead or motivate you to pursue a master's in urban education policy?
During my undergraduate studies, I became increasingly interested in social justice and racial equity related to urban education. I had the opportunity to reflect on my own lived experience and actively searched for ways I could work to dismantle educational inequity in my capacity as a student. So, I volunteered at Boys & Girls Clubs and other Muncie, IN-based youth organizations, worked as a substitute teacher in my former school district, and worked as a College Career Coach with the TRiO Upward Bound Program. Serving in those roles allowed me to see the issues affecting students and educational institutions from a professional and student perspective. I realized not much had changed structurally from when I was a student, and I wanted to explore ways to challenge how government and school systems intensify existing inequalities. I wanted to gain skills to dismantle systems that perpetuate racism through advocacy, policy, and practice. UEP, coupled with my internship and work with PPSD, provided me with a deeper understanding of the complex issues facing urban schools and communities.
What is the highlight of your experience in the UEP program?
One of the best days of my life, hands down, was graduation. The second highlight is my bonding experiences with my cohort over our struggles. We bonded over stats, connected, and vented to each other about A LOT, the challenges we were facing academically and personally; it solidified us for real. The third highlight was being challenged in a way I have never had before, as a professional and individual, to tap into curiosity. In the beginning, I was not giving myself grace and space to recognize the challenges that allow me to grow and learn more, not only about the content but about myself.
What are you up to now after graduating from the program?
Yeah, so a few exciting things. Well, #1. I am prioritizing myself after rigorous studies. I have been doing a lot of traveling lately, exploring DC, and connecting with new people.
Professionally, I currently work for KIPP DC on the KIPP Forward team — (KIPP DC's alumni and college & career counseling arm) we support eleventh and twelfth graders enrolled in our high schools (~550 students), and an additional 2,300 alumni who have graduated high school. In my role as Manager of Post Secondary Support, I manage our large-scale re-engagement grant and design re-engagement and re-enrollment strategies and supports for KIPP DC alumni who did not enroll in college during the pandemic or paused their studies and require additional support to return and matriculate in a pathway. Data is an essential part of the job to redirect, redesign, and repurpose how we strategize.
The best thing about my job is I can use my analytical skills and lived experience to support my caseload to set goals and hold them accountable. One thing I always tell the alumni on my caseload I can’t tell you what to do, what classes to make, or what decisions to make, my role is to support and assist you to assist you in taking ownership over your life and to feel empowered about the decisions that you make so that you can experience personal growth and take pride in your experience holistically.
Outside of my work at KIPP DC, I maintain strong ties with organizations that share my passion for ensuring racial and educational equity. I’m a Leadership Longevity Fellow through the New Alliance Sector; this fellowship brings together 15 mission-driven professionals from across the United States for an innovative new leadership development program focused on career and life design, health and wellness, and creating a supportive community of peers.
I was just announced as a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship, a prestigious federal two-year training and leadership development program for moving advanced degree graduates into government leadership.
What is your or what was your favorite part of living in Providence and being at Brown?
As challenging as it sometimes was working full-time and going through UEP amongst other responsibilities, I am so appreciative of my time working with Providence Public Schools — it was an incredibly rewarding experience! Shoutout to Roger Williams Middle School, Ms. Harriet (my work mom), and all of my students who were a part of the start of my professional career. I’ll add another dope thing about being at Brown was the opportunity to bring my students to school, exposing them to something right in their backyard.
Also, Providence has some good food. If you have not been already, you should go to Taste of India, El Ninja (Dominican-infused Sushi) & DEN DEN — easily my top three!
Who has made you the person you are today?
There are so many experiences, challenges, and people that have contributed to the person I am today, even the littlest things I don’t give much thought to. Nonetheless, when asked that question I think of my family, especially my grandma. She’s easily the dopest person in the world. She is such a giver, caretaker, and is also very encouraging, her belief in me has made me the person I am today.