Language has always held a special place in my heart, but it wasn’t until high school that I truly fell in love with Latin. School was challenging for me, and I struggled to find something I excelled at and enjoyed simultaneously. It was my high school Latin teacher who showed me the beauty of using Latin as a living language. We engaged in games, conversations, and skits, which turned each day into a magical experience. That’s when it clicked for me. After high school, I pursued my BA in Classical Languages at Miami of, Ohio and then continued to delve deeper into my passion by earning my MA in Classics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. My greatest joy lies in teaching students the beauty of language and illustrating its profound impact on their daily lives.
I was lucky enough to find a home at McLean in 2018 and haven’t looked back! Currently, I also serve as the Department Chair for World Languages. In 2022, I was honored to be named a Mead Fellow for the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL). This opportunity allowed me to start a project titled “Casting a Wider Net: Helping World Language Teachers Reach Their Neurodiverse Learners.” This project opened doors to numerous professional opportunities, including presenting at esteemed conferences such as ACTFL, GWATFL, MFLA, NECTFL, and even the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). My favorite professional development training is at ACTFL, which is an organization that supports collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation in the classroom. World Language teachers from around the country gather together and share their expertise. I learn so much from World Language teachers who are making a difference in their programs. I also love learning from McLean faculty and staff. In a time when language programs face threats of budget cuts in schools, I passionately advocate for all students to have access to World Languages. I am fortunate to collaborate with colleagues who share my appreciation for World Languages and to instruct students who continually motivate me to improve as a teacher.