Student Spotlights

I know firsthand how hard it is to imagine what you can accomplish when you are always thinking about what is holding you back. That’s why I want to be an elementary school teacher who makes my students feel important and valued so that they feel like they have a future in whatever they’d like to do. I want to do my best for them, and I’m learning how to do that at TC.

As a first year student in TC’s Adult Learning and Organizational Leadership program, I believe in people’s capacity to solve the biggest challenges facing us. I’ll never forget the sacrifices and generosity of people who helped me to pursue my dreams. More important, I’ll never stop trying to offer the same kind of chance to someone else.

Julian David-Drori is a first-year master student in the Neuroscience and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. His background is multifaceted, on the one hand involving Research in Behavioral Neurotoxicology and Neurodevelopmental disabilities while on the clinical side working with those who have Neurodevelopmental disabilities such as dysgraphia and autism spectrum disorder. In addition, Julian also works as an emergency medical technician. Eventually, Julian‘s end goal is to become a Clinical Neuropsychologist specializing in pharmacology and Neurodevelopmental disabilities. A native of Dewitt, New York, outside of his studies Julian loves spending time with his family.

Mariana Casellato is a second-year master's student in the International and Comparative Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a Zankel Fellow for the 2020-2021 academic year on the Climate Change Education NYC project, and a communications intern at AC4 - Earth Institute. Her background is on promoting environmental and citizenship education with youth in activities of collective communication production in Brazil. Her interests also include decolonization, her current research focus. Recently, as part of her work at AC4, she has co-produced a podcast series on Colonialism and COVID-19.