What led you pursue the Child Policy Research Certificate?
After reflecting on my passion for education and love for working with children, I made a major career shift away from medicine and applied for the Child Policy Research certificate program at Sanford.
Coming from a rural, first-generation background, I knew little about public policy, but my certificate courses were fundamentally equitable and supportive of all learners. I was met with overwhelming kindness and encouragement from the professors and directors, especially Drs. Megan Golonka and Katie Rosanbalm. Sanford was where I discovered my superpowers— wielding policy and advocacy to shape a better society for every child and the families that support them.
Can you describe your thesis project? What else has been your focus while at CCFP/Sanford?
For my capstone research project in the Child Policy Certificate, I examined the under-enrollment of rural students at elite universities— as a rural student at Duke myself! My mixed-methods approach involved identifying trends in resource and education disparities across rural America, integrated with analysis of higher education policy and practice. My project proposes practical, cost-effective strategies for achieving a proportionally-appropriate enrollment of rural students at top universities, beginning with state-level K-12 education policy and continuing into higher education administration.
Beyond this project, I am an advocate of equity-centered reform in education, from early childhood to postsecondary spaces. I am deeply inspired by children and work with students at any given opportunity, which further motivates my aspirations and deepens my understanding of education pedagogy.
At Duke, I have enjoyed working with Durham Public Schools in service learning classes, and teaching English to migrant students in South Korea with Duke Engage.
Which professor(s) had the most impact on your journey here? Why?
Firstly, I owe so much credit to Dr. Molly Goldwasser, who supervised my research. When I informed Dr. Goldwasser of my decision to pivot to education policy, she responded simply with, “correct!” I recognized her as my first true mentor at Duke after spending last summer in meetings with her, mostly discussing my research— but sometimes just eating ice cream and talking about life. Beyond her guidance on my project, Dr. Goldwasser’s continued support gave me the courage to make a transformative decision for myself, and embark on my future with confidence.
Dr. Katie Rosanbalm is a rockstar and has prepared me for whatever I may achieve in the future! She teaches with so much care and passion. Despite me coming into the certificate late, her classes quickly filled the gaps in my knowledge and fostered great curiosity, exploration and growth. I honestly don’t know how she manages to balance all the good she does for Duke and the world beyond, but I know I want to be like her someday.
Where do you hope to go next?
Ultimately, I want to continue my research in education policy and utilize it to advocate for positive change. I would like to earn my PhD, but for now, I want to gain frontline experience so I can conduct future research from a more informed perspective. I am currently considering instructional and administrative positions in K-12 and higher education, and will pursue this work for a few years before returning to academia.