Wondering what it's like to be a student at the Marsal Family School of Education?
Our student ambassadors would love to connect with you to share their experiences and answer your questions. Sign up below to meet with a student in your area of interest, or send an email to [email protected] and include an ambassador's name if there's someone in particular you'd like to connect with. We look forward to hearing from you!
Gabriella Gavulic
Hi! My name is Gabby and I am a sophomore in the Teacher Education Preferred Admission program, planning to study elementary education next year. I participate in several tutoring and mentorship clubs outside of my classes, and I’ve been a dance teacher in my hometown of Fenton, MI for three years. I am wholeheartedly passionate about helping children feel a sense of belonging and purpose both in and out of the classroom. I look forward to helping anyone who is considering and/or questioning a similar path!
Onyx Ali
My name is Onyx Ali, yes like the stone! I am from Ypsilanti, Michigan and am a sophomore in the Teacher Education Preferred Admissions program. I am planning on studying elementary education and plan to go on to become a Kindergarten teacher! Outside of classes I am reading different genres of books, working on activities for my dialogue I facilitate, and babysitting. My passion has always been in helping children and I can’t wait to continue to learn more about teaching and learning!
Kathryn Forberg
Hi! My name is Kathryn Forberg, and I'm from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Currently, I am a sophomore in the Teacher Education Preferred Admissions program, where I am preparing to major in Secondary Education with endorsements in Social Studies and Psychology. Outside of my academic life, I love attending concerts, going on runs, and cheering on our football team at the Big House. I have been deeply passionate about becoming a teacher since the second grade, and I'm dedicated to helping others who share a similar aspiration.
Ethan Davis
My name is Ethan Davis, I am from North Branch, MI and am currently a sophomore in the Teacher Education Preferred Admission program. I plan on studying Secondary Education with endorsements in Mathematics and Earth/Space Sciences. Outside of school, I enjoy going for walks in the arb, reading, and going to the State Theater. I am beyond excited to become an educator and help our future generations grow and prosper. Not only that, I am excited to help people who are also considering going into education and help them find their passions!
Brendan Smith
Hello! My name is Brendan Smith and I am from Willis, MI. I am currently a sophomore in the Teacher Education Preferred Admission Program. I plan on studying Secondary Education with the mathematics endorsement (and maybe the physics endorsement), while also studying Pure Mathematics through the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. In my free time, I run with the Michigan Running Club (MRun), play on my Nintendo Switch, and go on walks with my friends. I wanted to go into education because helping students learn and watching them grow has always been a dream of mine. To help prepare myself for my career in education, I took on the role as a Resident Advisor in Couzens Hall.
Constance Parker
My name is Constance (Con) Parker, I am from Chicago, Illinois and I am in my 5th year at U of M. I’m pursuing a dual degree between the Marsal School of Education and LSA in mathematics and secondary education. I am passionate about many things beyond math including dance, theater, reading and of course, teaching. I hope to be a middle school math teacher. I’m a huge advocate for women and queer individuals in STEM fields. I would love to help anyone considering education as a career, struggling to find their place within their interests or trying to navigate passions in many different fields!
Julia Pols
Hello! My name is Julia Pols and I am a senior in the Secondary Education program in the Marsal School of Education. I’m from Hudsonville, MI and I enjoy hiking, volunteering with my church, and painting. I am an avid lover of all things science, specifically geology. I am pursuing endorsements in Earth/Space Science and English Language Development, and would love to chat about study abroad opportunities at Umich, my transition to the School of Education, and how to navigate career choices as a first-generation college student!
Noor Klait
Hello! My name is Noor Klait and I am a senior in LSA currently finishing my sociology major and at the School of Education pursuing the education major with teaching certification in Secondary Language Arts and English Language Development. I am from Dearborn, Michigan and would love to connect about entering the education world from a multilingual and immigrant communities, and share my experiences in the ELD study abroad program in Mexico. I am currently teaching 11th & 12th grade IB Literature I & II at a highschool in Ypsilanti, and was placed at an 8th grade English class in Saline. I would love to talk about working in multicultural communities, study/ intern abroad, navigating the dual degree program, educational work opportunities prior to starting the program, and anything else I can be of help with!
Bella Crayton
Hello! My name is Bella Crayton and I am a senior studying Elementary Education at the Marsal School of Education. I am from Detroit, MI, and I intend to teach there after I graduate. This year, I am placed in a first-grade classroom at The School at Marygrove in Detroit, which is providing me with so many meaningful experiences. Outside of school, I really enjoy painting, drawing, Lego sets, and working in my community. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Robyn Raimey
Hello! My name is Robyn Raimey, and I am in my senior year at the Marsal Family School of Education (Marsal School) studying Elementary Education with endorsements in both Trauma-Informed Practice and MDE PK-12 English as a Second Language. I am from Ferndale, Michigan and I enjoy learning, observing the beauty around me, and a great cup of coffee. With several exposures to elementary schooling, both in Michigan and through my studies abroad – opportunities afforded to me by Marsal Education – I have gained diverse and enriching experiences in the field of education. These along with my current placement in the Kindergarten classroom at The School at Marygrove in Detroit, MI is a consistent reminder of why I am in this field and why I chose to pursue my education at Marsal Education. I’d love to talk with you about your journey!
Tali Kuperberg
Hi! My name is Tali Kuperberg (she/her) and I am a senior in the Elementary Education program here at Marsal. I am from right outside of Washington, D.C., and enjoy spending time with friends, reading, and trying all of the good foods in Ann Arbor. I am currently a student teaching in an incredible fifth grade classroom in a local elementary school. I am more than happy to talk with you about anything and everything!
Ava Richmond
Hi! My name is Ava Richmond and I am a graduate student pursuing Elementary Teacher certification with the English Language Development endorsement. I recently graduated from the University of Michigan with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in comparative religion. I am currently placed in a lively third grade classroom at King Elementary School. When I am not in the classroom, I love to read, practice yoga, and paint with watercolors. I would love to help anyone who is curious about ELMAC or considering a career as an elementary teacher!
Ashleigh Lowe
Hi! My name is Ashleigh Lowe, and I am from Ypsilanti, Michigan. I recently graduated from Michigan State University with my bachelor’s in arts and humanities with a concentration in community engagement. I am now a graduate student pursuing Elementary Teacher certification with the English Language Development endorsement. I am currently student teaching in a Kindergarten classroom. Outside of school, I love to read and try new restaurants. I am excited to help anyone interested in ELMAC or being an elementary teacher!
Madi Walther
Hello! My name is Madi Walther and I am a graduate student pursuing Elementary Teacher certification with the English Language Development endorsement. I attended Kalamazoo College for undergrad where I studied English and Spanish. Currently, I am student teaching in a kindergarten classroom at Mitchell Elementary where I get to use my language skills with a linguistically rich student population. When I’m not in the classroom, you can find me cuddled up with a book or taking my dog for long walks. I look forward to sharing my experiences in the ELMAC program with you!
Nicky Sherrick
Howdy, my name is Nicky! I grew up in Ann Arbor, and went to the Ann Arbor Public Schools growing up. I completed my undergraduate degree at Denison University in Granville Ohio in biology and studio art, and now I am back in my hometown studying how to be a secondary biology teacher! I am currently placed at the Ann Arbor Steam school at Northside! In my free time you can find me looking under rocks for frogs, doing art, or hanging out with my cat, When. I am excited to share some of my experiences at Marsal with you!
Basil Winters
Hey y’all! My name is Basil, or Miss Basil to my students! I grew up in a little town up north called Mio. It’s so small, it’s not even legally a town. When I moved to East Lansing to pursue Professional & Public Writing and Political Science - PreLaw at Michigan State University, it was a huge change. But, it sparked my love of Big 10 schools and I followed that spark all the way to A2 to get my Masters in Secondary Education in Social Studies! In my free time, you can find me playing D&D, Overwatch, Fortnite, hanging out with my wife, or playing with our two new kittens! Hi Swayze, Hi Gumbie!
Joseph Kind
My name is Joseph Kind, and I am a dual degree MBA/MA Education Studies candidate at the Ross School of Business and the Marsal Family School of Education. Following two years in project management and education administration, I pivoted to classroom management and spent four years as an elementary school teacher in Harlem, New York. I am passionate about the ways in which business, education and technology can be utilized as tools for equity and impact at scale.
Lin Xu
Hi! My name is Lin, and I’m a first-year international student in the DATL program. I hold a BS in Educational Technology and an MFA in Film & TV Production. I’m super passionate about how technology, media, and education can come together to create impactful learning experiences. That’s exactly why I’m here at the Marsal Family School of Education! In my free time, you’ll probably find me behind a camera, capturing life’s little moments, enjoying spicy food, watching movies, or playing video games. I’m really excited to share my journey with you and help out however I can as we connect and learn together!
Amanda Zall
Hello! My name is Amanda Zall, I grew up in Wakefield, MA, and taught Orchestra in Downers Grove, IL. Currently, I am a graduate student in the Marsal School of Education pursuing a masters in Educational Leadership and Policy (ELP). I am additionally a graduate of Syracuse University, where I earned a BM in Music Education. I have a passion for Fine Arts and would love to answer any questions you may have about wanting to pursue a degree in education!
Emily Atkinson
Hi! My name is Emily and I use she/her pronouns. I grew up and attended undergrad in New Jersey. After graduating, I moved to Nashville, TN where I taught high school special education for three years. After teaching, I learned how to code and worked as a developer for two years. I’m currently a Masters student in the Educational Leadership and Policy program at the University of Michigan. I’m also a graduate student instructor (GSI) and Nonproft Board Fellow through the Business+Impact program. I’m interested in developing just, equitable, and effective educational policy at the K-12 level. I’m excited to share my experience and help you determine if the University of Michigan is the right fit for you!
Danielle Capitan
Hi! I'm Danielle Capitan and I'm a second year student in the Graduate Educational Leadership and Policy program. I'm also currently a secondary German teacher at Tappan Middle School in Ann Arbor. In my free time, I love cooking and playing video games to unwind. If you have questions about teaching and going to school, I'd be happy to share my experiences!
Akash Malkannagari
Hi, I'm Akash from Hyderabad, India. I'm currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Education Leadership and Policy at the Marsal Family School of Education. I'm a Teach for India alumni and I'm passionate about leadership, program management, education equity, and building joyful classrooms.
Korryn McDonald
Hey y’all! I’m Korryn (she/her) and I’m in my first year in the ELP program here at Marsal. I grew up in Kansas and went to undergrad in St. Louis. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education, I taught middle school music for 4 years, and then moved to Asheville, NC and taught one year of high school Career Development. I have written curriculum, created professional development for the school and the district, coached girls soccer, and was awarded Visual and Performing Arts Educator of the Year in 2022. In my free time I am big into crocheting while snuggling my mini Aussie, Hugo. I love teaching so much and am passionate about implementing feminist theory into leadership and building structures to center relationships, collectivism, and love in education. I can’t wait to get to know y’all better and talk about the joy of education!
Alec Morrissey
Howdy, my name is Alec (he/they)! I grew up outside of Toledo, Ohio, before venturing to Minnesota where I studied sociology, anthropology, and gender and sexuality studies at Carleton College. I then spent three years in selective undergraduate admissions at Bates College in Maine, serving most recently as an Assistant Dean and Coordinator of Communications. During my time here at U-M, I will also be interning with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC). After obtaining an MA in Higher Education, I am hoping to work within the Equity, Civil Rights, and Institutional Compliance field at a college or university. I would love to chat with you about anything higher education related!
Collyn Smith
Hey y’all! My name is Collyn (they/he). I grew up in rural North Carolina in a small farming community called Barbecue (very real, no post office, no bbq spots, very Southern). I attended UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad where I studied Public Policy and Education before graduating and making my way to UT Austin in Texas to work in the Law School’s Dean of Students office doing student programming, organization advising, and student support. During my time here at U-M, I am interning with the U.P. Scholars program supporting transition, belonging, and retention of students from rural parts of Michigan. My primary interests lie in rural students experiences at non-rural institutions, development & fundraising, and critical incident response/support. I’m always happy to talk about anything student affairs/higher education related!
Dani Williams
Hey! My name is Danielle, but I prefer that people call me Dani (they/she). I’m a U of M alum (2021) and currently a GSI for one of the departments I majored in— The Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS). I also majored in Film, Television, and Media. I enjoy roller skating, reading, hiking, traveling, and watching movies in my free time.