2021 Cohort – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

What does it mean to advise as a form of justice?

Ulises Garcia Jr., IRT ’21

This was the first question I was asked during my Statement of Purpose (SOP) Advisor interview. It is no secret that we are (and have been) living in trying times. Consequently, I believe the most appropriate way to advise as a form of justice is to acknowledge and appease to the humanity of others. Subsequently, I aimed to meet my advisees where they were at, practiced radical honesty, and challenged them to confidently speak to their strengths. I pulled lessons from my undergraduate journey, my own experience as an IRT advisee, and my graduate and professional learnings.

I remember reaching out to a mentor in undergrad for resume support and he said something that has stuck with me to this day. Before addressing any of his notes he said, “Ulises, I want you to know that I think writing is vulnerable and, therefore, you sharing your writing with me is honorable and I will treat it as such.” I was floored. I don’t know that I had experienced someone be so forward with their care about my writing before but I greatly appreciated that transparency. Writing is a reflection of thought processes put onto paper and asking for feedback is opening oneself up to being critiqued. Sharing drafts of SOP’s for 8 weeks is an act of vulnerability—it requires trust and it was imperative that I relayed that message to my advisees during our first introductory group meeting.

Exploring Russian and Slavic Languages

Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 recently spoke to A’Yanna Solomon, IRT’21 to discuss her work and interests

On a regular basis, I am captivated by the innovative, interdisciplinary, and relevant scholarship that IRT Scholars are engaging. This sentiment also rings true as it relates to the scholarly work that A’Yanna Solomon, IRT ’21 is pursuing as a second-year graduate student in the Slavic Languages and Literature Department at the University of Michigan.

A’Yanna’s trajectory and interest in Russian and Slavic languages originally began in East Baltimore, Maryland, where she grew up listening to hip hop music which she says resonated with her, much in the same way that Black culture did. A’Yanna knew that she wanted to study Russian because she was fascinated by its phonetics and written script during her youth. Upon enrolling at Goucher College, she majored in Russian and Spanish Languages. Because the Russian program was being phased out of existence at Goucher College, one of A’Yanna’s professors also introduced her to Slavic Studies, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies which have gained more cache as the focus on Russian language decreases in the field. Within Russian Studies, A’Yanna focused on comparative marginalization and popular culture and the ways that the LGBTQ communities in Russia resisted homophobic queer phobic legislation. In what ways did these communities create and maintain community? This preoccupation with marginalization stemmed from her own treatment as an outsider studying Russian language. Often, a student would lean over quietly and ask her, “This is intermediate Russian, right?” Fifteen minutes would pass, and the same student would respond, “So, do you like speaking Russian?” “Yea, I do, I do.”

Alumni Accolades, June 2024

Paula Groves Price, IRT ’95
Congratulations to Paula who has received the Zenobia Hikes Award for an administrator in Higher Education. The award recognizes a woman of color with a distinguished career in higher education demonstrated by scholarly endeavors or administrative and professional accomplishments. Paula is the Dean of the College of Education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

(L-R) Paula Groves Price, IRT ’95 and Brittany Zorn, IRT’13

2021 IRT Cohort Future Plans

We are so very proud of the work and perseverance the 2021 IRT Cohort has shown over the past year. In the second year of the pandemic, IRT students have encountered many difficult decisions. IRT alumni especially have been so helpful with students navigating these important decisions with keen advice and insight on programs and schools. It takes a village and we are thankful to all alumni who have helped this year’s cohort and continually enhance the connections within the IRT!

Thank you a million times over for your assistance throughout my school application process. I am so grateful to have the incredible support network that I do, and it’s the reason why I pour into others— students, mentees, colleagues, my community. You’ve made all the difference for me during this incredibly difficult year. Thank you.
Abby Katz, IRT ’21

Alumni Accolades, June 2022

Karina Fernández Montilla, IRT ‘06 is a recipient of the 2022 Dr. Sue Estler University of Maine Higher Education Distinguished Alumnx Award. This award is given by the University of Maine Higher Education graduate programs in honor of Dr. Suzanne E. Estler, Associate Professor, Emeritus of Higher Education. Karina is Assistant Dean of Advising and Director of the James Baldwin Scholars Program at Hampshire College.

Teresa Gonzales, IRT ‘06 will be joining the sociology department at Loyola University Chicago this fall.

Heather Moore Roberson, IRT ’07 was appointed Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Allegheny College. Congratulations!