I had no intent of becoming an educator early in life. I thought that my gift for academia meant that I would go on to conquer the field of medicine. Little did I know that I would end up applying my gifts in the field where I’ve always felt at home and comfortable. It seems now to make so much sense — how could I have not expected this path for myself?
I’ve been an educator for nearly 20 years. Most of my experience has been in corporate training in the healthcare industry, but my most recent experience has been in academic higher learning institutions. My first foray into education was with a commercial training provider, where I taught technical courses for eight straight hours every day. I found very little meaning in teaching for an organization that didn’t assess whether learners learned, and allowed them a completion certificate without actually even staying for the entire course. My next opportunity allowed me to design a technology education program for a small independent community hospital, where I knew I would be impacting the lives of the patients for which my students were caring. That’s when I first encountered the feeling one gets when the “lightbulb” goes off in a learner’s mind and a concept finally “clicks” with them. That is the point when that learner connects what they’ve just learned to real life and their real world work, and can see a better way to get real work done. That feeling started me on the path toward discovering my personal mission and calling to be an educator and advocate for educational equity and justice.
Since then, I’ve continued to grow in roles ranging from web development, to marketing and corporate communications, graphic design, and information technology — all of which have simply added to my capabilities to be a more effective educator and instructional designer. As I have felt myself becoming more successful and effective, my goals have included working with and applying my gifts to efforts and organizations that are committed to evening the educational playing field between those with more access, resource, and opportunity, and those with less of the same. My continuing goal is to motivate others to enlist in the same effort, through expert execution, networking, collaboration, and furthering the conversation on the importance of educational equity and justice for all.
You can see some of photos of me here working in this capacity helping to mentor young girls toward education and careers in the technology field as part of my 12-year affiliation with The Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT).