When Yuang (Connor) Song, a current doctoral student in TC’s Mathematics and Education program, isn’t immersed in his latest computational and computational thinking research project, he’s fully engaged in campus life—from Student Senate meetings and Global Engagement events to expeditions on the Long Island sound with the Columbia University Sailing Team. For Song, these varied pursuits are united by a common thread: a passion for building community.
“Being part of the TC community has shaped who I am,” Song reflects. “It’s about the experiences we bring as individuals—and how we use them to strengthen and give back to our community. It is never too early to start, and no action is too small to do the right thing.”
Song’s commitment to building community began with a small, but formative experience during his first year at Teachers College when he started as a masters’ student in Economics and Education program. “During that time, it was paramount to build a sense of belonging and community amidst the pandemic restrictions," he shares. Wanting to extend that sense of belonging, he created an online space for communication and connection, for new students to foster connection and combat isolation during the pandemic—a catalyst for his now ongoing involvement in campus life.
Before arriving on West 120th Street, Song earned his master’s degree in applied mathematics and statistics from Hunter College, where he now serves as Adjunct Lecturer. Eager to deepen his expertise and understanding of education, he decided to pursue his doctoral studies at Teachers College. In today’s rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence, Song is drawn to the ways mathematical and computational thinking can reform learning. “My research is grounded in statistics, but I’m also interested in how emerging technologies can be applied to answer evolving and perennial educational questions and needs regarding what to teach and how to teach,” he shares.
An early testament to this is Song’s role as the inaugural Statistics Workshop facilitator, sponsored by TC's Office of Graduate Student Life and Development (GSLD), where he helped students feel more at ease with quantitative research methods. With the support of the Provost’s Grant for Conference & Professional Development, Song also had a chance to present his research at Princeton University. “At the conference, I began to see the academic world from a professional perspective, met many talented people and exchanged ideas with peers," he shares. “Through TC's support, these opportunities were made possible for me."
Photos courtesy of Song. Photos courtesy of Song. Photos courtesy of Song. Photos courtesy of Song.Carousel
Currently, he’s collaborating with his advisor, Irina Lyublinskaya, Professor of Mathematics Education, on a NSF-funded multi-year project titled, “Birds & Bots,” which explores how culturally relevant activities can transform students’ attitudes towards STEM. “It presents new opportunities for in-classroom learning, particularly in mathematics,” he shares. “Through this project, you begin to see the nuances. Even though we are trained not to make unsupported assumptions, it is still a visceral experience to witness how things unfold differently from what you once believed.”
And no matter where you turn on campus, you’re bound to find Song somewhere. Assuming his role this year as TC’s Student Senate President, he leads student-driven initiatives at the College as well as additional programming. So far, Song has worked to make TC's Staff Appreciation Week a more community-based celebration and supported the "Futures of Education," a student collaboration between TC and the Faculty of Education Research Students’ Association at The University of Cambridge. “I’m grateful for this role because it’s an opportunity to build on TC’s legacy of exceptional student leadership and shared governance, and continue the work of student leaders who came before me,” he explains. “Most importantly, I try to reflect upon TC’s mission statement: How can we empower fellow learners in the community around us?” Song, a Zankel Fellowship recipient, also serves as a mathematics interventionist at Teachers College Community School with TC's Amy Hawley Alvarez.
In addition to his leadership on the Student Senate, Song also serves as Assistant to the Executive Director of TC’s Office of Global Engagement (OGE), a role that has broadened his perspective within the TC community. He shares, “It’s been a rewarding and learning experience to sit on both sides of the table, especially given my interest in educational research.”
He recently contributed to the planning of OGE’s conference, “Bridging Well-being and (Teacher) Education: A Globalized Perspective to Science Diplomacy,” led by TC’s Portia Williams, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Global Affairs, and Amine Mechaal, Executive Director, in partnership with the European University for Well-being (UniWell). The conference highlighted the vital role of educator well-being and tackled key issues such as the projected 2030 teacher shortage and educator mental health. “Teachers are remarkable thought leaders and their voices are formidable,” he notes. “We should provide more opportunities for educators to come together and develop solutions.”
When asked about what lies ahead after Teachers College, Song shares that he’s “not quite done” exploring new opportunities. Upon receiving his doctoral degree in the future, he shares that he’s considering exploring different career avenues, including staying in academia, working for a a research-based non-profit organization continuing on his experience with the Federal Policy Institute, or even a private-sector role where he can apply his statistical skills.
“TC can open doors for you, but it also helps you to grow so that those doors are meaningful,” he concludes. “Everyday I’m learning new things whether that be from the [TC] faculty and staff, my peers or simply the people I bump into in the hallway. I’m still learning and that’s the beauty of the TC community.”