“The classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy.”

-bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress

I fervently believe that everything we do and say is political. Our existence is a political act. When I decided to go back to school for my master’s, I knew I needed a program that would allow me to grow as an educator, an artist, and, most importantly, a political citizen. As a gallery director and arts educator at the high school level, I am deeply committed to utilizing my position to foster inclusive spaces facilitating identity exploration, cultural consciousness-raising, and cross-community dialogue.

My daily work entails curating exhibitions, developing public programming, and incorporating the gallery across disciplines as an extension of our school’s classrooms. My experiences directing a small academic art space have uniquely informed my evolving perspective on the immense potential and profound responsibility of educators and museums alike in addressing societal inequities. I developed a nuanced understanding of the challenges, sensitivities, and possibilities inherent in this public work. I co-facilitated conversations and teach-ins with our Director of Equity and Inclusion and designed exhibitions that encourage self-reflection, creative expression, and peer dialogue on issues of identity and marginalization.

My policy interests center on ensuring equitable distribution of arts education and cultural resources at the K-12 level. My master’s program has allowed me to maintain an interdisciplinary approach—encouraging me to explore critical policy analysis, pedagogical methods, exhibition development, and community-based programming. Going forward, I aim to inform funding priorities and accountability policies that can shape systemic change in major cultural institutions and how they serve historically marginalized communities.

Schools and museums have a beautiful opportunity to partner in more expansive and collaborative ways going forward. They need scholars and policymakers to honor these partnerships through research and funding. I endeavor to translate theory into practice through actionable public initiatives expanding access to arts learning opportunities.