#ProminentWomen
Spotlighting the successes, achievements, and aspirations of women from our community
Education Edition
Michelle Rosa Martins
I was inspired to pursue a career in higher education because of the many mentors and educators who helped me in my undergraduate journey. I was blessed to have many staff members to help me navigate the institution as a student coming from first-generation immigrant family with limited resources. The elders were able to carve a path for and with me in the way I try to do in my own way at Holy Cross.
Being a BIPOC women in education is important to me for many reasons including visibility, mentorship, and justice. As a millennial, I believe we will continue to change the world around us. In education, this means showing up as our authentic selves and taking up space. I believe I model this for all students but especially BIPOC women students.
Karie M.
Representation and a passion to teach is what inspired me to be an educator. Since I was five I was holding classrooms in my backyard and all throughout my high school career I was a tutor. Our kids are our future and I teach Black/brown kids because I want to be a safe place for them in schools. I want them to see me and say I can do it too🤍. Being a Black Women in education is important to me because I was once in my students position... I know how hard the world is going to be for them but I’m here to guide them through their educational journey. I plan on uplifting my students to reach new heights and be that helping hand that will always hold on to them when it gets hard.
Amie Archambault
One of the foundational theories of student development and growth is Sanford's theory of challenge and support. It is always at the core of the what we do and for me how I believe I can help our future generation of thinkers. One way that I move within my role especially as a white identifying woman working in multicultural education, is to infuse the voices, stories and view points of BIPOC folx and BIPOC women in particular. In addition, programming at the intersections of identities such as a recent documentary and discussion I facilitated highlighting Marsha P Johnson a Black Trans Woman activist. These are some ways I challenge students to see from a different perspective then their own. It is important to find a good balance in challenging folx while also supporting them through this journey of growth and development. I don't want to push so hard that I completely turn off a student from ideas, concepts and viewpoints that are new to them but I also don't want to coddle them through the uncomfortably either. It is a fine balance that I continue to work on to be the best educator I can be and helping our future generation of thinkers.
Mariel Aleman
To be a BIPOC women in education my hope is that every student I have the honor of working with feels that they are seen, heard, and validated through the work we engage in. That they feel empowered to pursue their dreams while knowing that they have someone (many of us) cheering them on the sideline. It's about meeting people where they are in their own journey and supporting their growth base on what they need from you each step of the way. To me, education happens through many avenues. Whether it's in the traditional classroom setting or through conversations in passing, we are all learning from one other. As an educator, my goal is to demonstrate to students that I am very much learning from them as well as they continue to inspire me every day.
“One of feminism’s biggest failures is its failure to insist that feminism is, first and foremost, about truly, deeply, and unapologetically loving women”
— Brittney Cooper