Name: Madeline Wachsmuth
Hometown: Portland, OR
Program: MAT Science Cohort
Education: Graduating from Brown in May 2025 (B.A. in Environmental Studies and Education Studies)
What drew you to the Bacc/MAT program?
What makes Brown’s Bacc/MAT program truly stand out is its immediate and intentional focus on subject-area expertise. From the start, students dive deeply into their content area, whether it’s science, social studies, math, or another discipline, and build strong connections within their cohort. That specificity and focus really matter to me.
I also love being in Providence and am excited to continue building relationships with local schools and educators. And let’s be honest, one of the biggest draws of Brown’s Education Department is the community. It is full of the kindest, most creative, talented, and inspiring people you’ll ever meet.
How have your undergraduate studies, along with your other experiences, inspired you to pursue teaching?
In high school, I spent a week each semester teaching at Oregon’s Outdoor School, guiding 6th graders as they explored science in the forest. It was the wonder of inquiry and helping students uncover the intricate networks within ecosystems that first drew me into teaching. For me, teaching has always been about reigniting the sense of wonder that we often forget as we grow older.
At Brown, I double concentrate in Education Studies and Environmental Studies, taking full advantage of the open curriculum to deepen my understanding through biology courses as well. Two courses have been especially pivotal in shaping my teaching journey: “Cultivating STEM Identities” with Professor Indira Gil and “Family Engagement in Education” with Professor Yoko Yamamoto.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I’ve had the opportunity to work with youth through OLEEP (Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education Program), refugee tutoring, and as an afterschool staff member at The Wheeler School. Each of these experiences has further fueled my passion for education and working with young people.
What has been a highlight of your experience in the Bacc/MAT program so far?
The community here is truly incredible. Through our Community Assets course in the fall, I had the chance to build meaningful relationships with current MAT and UEP students, along with my fellow Bacc/MATs. Even though we’re not teachers yet, the sense of camaraderie among peers in this field gives me a lot of hope. I’ve also deeply appreciated how accessible and supportive our mentors and professors have been throughout the journey.
What or who inspired you to become a teacher?
My mom was my first and most powerful inspiration to become a teacher. I was homeschooled from kindergarten through eighth grade, and she consistently showed me what it means to approach life with intellectual curiosity, not confined to a classroom but woven into everything we do.
What are you most excited to teach, and why?
I’m genuinely excited to teach biology and environmental science. These subjects offer such powerful and beautiful ways to explore who we are as humans and how we relate to the places we live. I look forward to encouraging students to grow in their STEM identities, to see themselves as agents of change, and to embrace curiosity and wonder in the world around them.