Student Stories

Ellen Teags is a committed educator whose innovation around practices such as mindfulness and metacognition are leading the field. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oregon State University, Teags various roles at small businesses — from shipping logistics to data analysis to marketing and technical writing —...

Just like many educators, Deidre Bergquist navigated the challenges of transitioning to remote learning with her students in 2020, her first year teaching first-grade after earning her bachelor of arts in psychology with a teaching license in elementary education from CU Boulder. Even with all the new hurdles that came...

Douglas Watkins already had a busy and fulfilling career and family life, when he enrolled in the master’s program in the CU Boulder School of Education to deepen his grounding in learning sciences. With a newly minted master's degree, Watkins hopes to inspire his young son. Watkins is the secondary...

Early on, Angélica Gutierrez, learned to fight for equitable education and defend the high school and school district that afforded her valuable lessons. “I grew up going to Adams 14 schools, and despite all of the narratives out there about the district, I learned a lot of valuable lessons and...

Michelle Lopez’s Colorado roots run deep, and her family histories and culture have helped shape her work as a bilingual teacher. The lucha (or struggle) toward truth can sometimes feel overwhelming and daunting, but it can light the path toward unity and harmony. Completing this program represents a fight for...

Lauren Gaona’s students are often her best teachers. After teaching in Thailand, her Thai students taught her the true essence of being a teacher is about building trusting relationships and creating a space for everybody to bring their whole, authentic selves into the classroom. As a teacher, it’s ok to...

Corey Ferraro had his sights set on two things: becoming a teacher and attending the University of Colorado Boulder. The Master’s Plus Teacher Licensure program in the School of Education allowed him to check both of those boxes in just one year. Becoming a teacher is a life change I...

Lianna Nixon is an environmental photographer and activist, but on Earth Day 2020, she was not thinking about marches or demonstrations. That was the day she found out if her spot on the world’s largest polar research expedition was still on despite the spread of a global pandemic. Photography and...

Jax Gonzalez’s impressive academic accomplishments and educational pursuits would astound even their former self. I strive for liberation in everything that I do, and teaching is an opportunity to dream about building a world we all want to live in." “As a first-generation college student, to complete a graduate degree...

As an academic coordinator for student-athletes, Katharine Lindauer is used to supporting varsity student-athletes as they pursue success on the playing surface and in the classroom, but in the Master’s in Higher Education program, Lindauer is the student, learner, and supporter for classmates. I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to...