We are excited to introduce our newest student ambassadors representing the Master of Arts in Teaching and Master's in Urban Education Policy programs.
Chosen for their leadership and passion for our community, these ambassadors are here to offer prospective and newly admitted students a candid, firsthand look at life in Brown’s Department of Education. Whether you have questions about course workloads, internships or residencies, or living in Providence, they are ready to help you navigate your journey.
Want to get connected? Reach out directly by filling out the this form for MAT and this form for UEP.
Get to know the team: Scroll down to read about their backgrounds, what brought them to Brown, and their goals for the future in their own words!
Master of Arts in Teaching
Justin Bolsen
Harris Galvin
Hometown: Centennial, Colorado
Undergrad: Brown University
What drew you to Brown’s MAT program? After studying education in undergrad, I feel very connected to the Education department as a whole. The professors I met were all incredibly dedicated to the content they produced and the craft of teaching in their classroom. Katie Rieser was a consistent presence in classes that she did not teach, as she would come and encourage us that becoming a teacher is the most practical way to create social change in education. After a teaching experience in New York City last summer, I agreed with her and found that leading a classroom was incredibly important work and made me feel fulfilled every single day. Already, I have learned so much from the program and the students I get to meet every day.
Why did you decide to become a student ambassador? Minority women are underrepresented in the teaching field. The work I find so essential often has many financial, social, and professional barriers for POC women. My goal as an ambassador is to serve as a role model and to break down misconceptions about what a teaching profession entails. I am so proud of this work, and I hope to connect and inspire potential future educators and share my experience.
What’s a hobby or interest of yours outside of school? I loooove to bike the entire East Bay Bike Path. If I don't have class and the weather prevails, I will be on my bike! (wearing a helmet)
Henry Robbins
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Undergrad: Brown University
What drew you to Brown’s MAT program? First, I was drawn to the MAT program because of its gradual-release model. I knew that the first year of teaching could be overwhelming, so I wanted a highly structured and thoughtful program that would incrementally increase my responsibilities and make sure that my learning never came at the expense of my students’ learning. Second, as a Brown undergraduate, I had the privilege of getting to know some of the MAT faculty. They were incredibly encouraging and supportive—the exact kind of people I wanted behind me as I learned how to become a teacher.
Why did you decide to become a student ambassador? I chose to become a student ambassador because I really believe in teaching as a career for good. I wanted to help make sure that anyone considering the field has someone they can talk to openly about the program and the profession, so they can make as informed a decision as possible.
What’s a hobby or interest of yours outside of school? I love being outdoors! If you ever need recommendations for places to go or things to do around Rhode Island, I’m always happy to share.
Julia Maguire
Hometown: North Andover, Massachusetts
Undergrad: Skidmore College
What drew you to Brown’s MAT program? I have always wanted to become a teacher. Through various classroom experiences prior to this year, I have found a passion for making school a joyful and comfortable space for every student. I was drawn to the Brown MAT program for their year-long residency model, where you are immersed in a school community for the entire year. I believe it allows student teachers to really cultivate close and long-lasting relationships within a district. After connecting with the previous student ambassadors at different recruitment events, I loved hearing what a closely knit community the MAT cohort really is, and how much individual mentorship is built into the model that allows each candidate to feel extremely supported!
Why did you decide to become a student ambassador? I wanted to become a student ambassador because during my application process, hearing the previous ambassadors' perspectives really solidified my decision to come to Brown. I loved listening to their personal stories with the academic work of the program, as well as their lives and involvement in the city of Providence. I hope I can give applicants a similar experience.
What’s a hobby or interest of yours outside of school? Outside of school, I enjoy cooking, reading, spending time at the beach, and trying as many restaurants and coffee shops around Rhode Island as I can!
Master's in Urban Education Policy
Edgar Diaz
Hometown: Inglewood, CA
Undergrad: Stanford University
What drew you to Brown's UEP program? I came to UEP because it treats urban education as its own serious subject rather than an extension to broader policy. The small cohort model was a big part of my decision. I came up through urban schools in Los Angeles, and that shaped how I understand what students are and are not given. When I got to college, I saw the disparities in higher education up close, in who arrives prepared, who feels like they belong, and who has someone to help them navigate it. Those two experiences sit at the center of why I am here. UEP gave me a place to take that arc seriously and study it with rigor. The small cohort model mattered too, because I wanted to learn somewhere I would actually know the people around me and where the focus stayed on the specific realities of urban classrooms and the policy that shapes them. UEP, and the connection to the Annenberg Institute, offered a way to sit close to the research and the decisions that shape districts like mine, and to build toward the kind of civil rights and district leadership work I want to do long term.
Why did you decide to become a student ambassador? I am a first-generation college student, and I know what it is like to move through these spaces without anyone to explain how they work. Being an ambassador felt like a natural extension of that. I get to be the person I would have wanted to talk to when I was deciding where to go and whether a place like this was for me. I also enjoy the programmatic side of that work, the outreach and the community building.
What's a hobby or interest of yours outside of school? I am a big vintage shopper and I will admit I enjoy rom-coms and sitcoms more than I probably should.
Monica Colchado
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergrad: Wellesley College
What drew you to Brown’s UEP program? I was drawn to Brown’s UEP program for its focus on system-level change and clear focus on Urban contexts. Being from Los Angeles, I wanted to make sure the program I selected, prepared me to return to diverse communities and shape my perspective on how to help large networks of schools and learners. I was also drawn to Brown’s UEP Program due to its cohort model and structured coursework. I wanted a program that allowed for close mentorship with professors and small class sizes to not only build community with peers but support each others’ learning.
Why did you decide to become a student ambassador? I decided to become an ambassador because it was extremely helpful for me to hear student perspectives when I was selecting a program and wanted to be a source of support for prospective students. I also felt I offered a unique perspective as a Ruth J. Simmons Fellow and could speak more about the opportunities and support here at Brown!
What’s a hobby or interest of yours outside of school? I love live music! When time allows, I try my best to go to concerts and even used to do concert photography!
Tatyana Kennedy
Hometown: Originally from Georgetown, Guyana; grew up in New York City
Undergrad: York College, CUNY
What drew you to Brown’s UEP program? I think my path to Brown actually began in an education philosophy course. It was one of the first times I was introduced to the ideas and debates that shaped early education: what we believe education is for, who gets to be educated, and who gets to make those decisions. It made me curious about the systems behind education in a way I hadn’t been before.
Then I became a classroom teacher, and those questions became much more real. I was no longer just reading about education systems; I was working within one and seeing how larger decisions shaped what happened in my classroom and what my students experienced. That really heightened my desire to understand more. Brown’s UEP program felt like the place where I could bring those experiences together and begin exploring education beyond the classroom through policy, research, and systems-level thinking.
Why did you decide to become a student ambassador? Brown is a great place to be, and I think the UEP program uniquely allows you to make the most of being here. You really get to choose the kind of experience you want to have. The foundation is already there through the cohort model, professors who are genuinely accessible, and a program that encourages you to explore your own interests. From there, you can really make the experience your own.
That’s part of why I wanted to become a student ambassador. I’ve enjoyed finding my own place at Brown, and I wanted to help other students imagine what their experience here could look like- not just tell them about the program, but help them see the different ways they can take advantage of everything that comes with being here.
What’s a hobby or interest of yours outside of school? Outside of school, I love reading, cooking, exploring new coffee shops, and traveling whenever I get the chance. I'm always looking for little ways to slow down and enjoy life.