Meet Our Doctoral Students
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new online profiles for Doctoral Students at Teachers College.
If you are a currently enrolled doctoral student at Teachers College, please visit the profile submission page for more information on how you can create your own profile.
Our Master's Students
Professionally, I have over 20 years of experience working in social services with marginalized populations as a case manager, outreach director and program director. In addition, I developed, operated, and facilitated an innovative program that incorporated Hip Hop culture with social emotional learning for K-12 students and assisted with organizing and coordinating an annual Hip Hop and education conference (Rock The School Bells – Sacramento) for high school students and educators.
Educational Background
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Montclair State University, 2024
Honors/Awards
Spring/Fall 2023, Dean’s List, Montclair State University
Spring/Fall 2021, Dean’s Honor List, California State University, Sacramento
2019-2022, Most Valued Partner Award, San Juan Unified School District
2014, Community Service Award, Sacramento City Unified School District
Publications/Exhibitions
Brim, M., (2022). Race, mathematics, and effective pedagogies for high achieving african american high school students from low-income households. McNair Scholars Journal – California State University, Sacramento.
Brim, M., (2022). Race, mathematics, and effective pedagogies for high achieving african american high school students from low-income households. PowerPoint presentation at SAEOPP McNair Scholars Research Conference. Atlanta, Georgia
Brim, M., (2015). Transforming Identity: Hip hop in suburbia. PowerPoint presentation at Bergen Community College Black History Month Symposium. Paramus, New Jersey.
Professionally, I have over 20 years of experience working in social services with marginalized populations as a case manager, outreach director and program director. In addition, I developed, operated, and facilitated an innovative program that incorporated Hip Hop culture with social emotional learning for K-12 students and assisted with organizing and coordinating an annual Hip Hop and education conference (Rock The School Bells – Sacramento) for high school students and educators.
Educational Background
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Montclair State University, 2024
Honors/Awards
Spring/Fall 2023, Dean’s List, Montclair State University
Spring/Fall 2021, Dean’s Honor List, California State University, Sacramento
2019-2022, Most Valued Partner Award, San Juan Unified School District
2014, Community Service Award, Sacramento City Unified School District
Publications/Exhibitions
Brim, M., (2022). Race, mathematics, and effective pedagogies for high achieving african american high school students from low-income households. McNair Scholars Journal – California State University, Sacramento.
Brim, M., (2022). Race, mathematics, and effective pedagogies for high achieving african american high school students from low-income households. PowerPoint presentation at SAEOPP McNair Scholars Research Conference. Atlanta, Georgia
Brim, M., (2015). Transforming Identity: Hip hop in suburbia. PowerPoint presentation at Bergen Community College Black History Month Symposium. Paramus, New Jersey.
Ryan is currently pursuing an M.A. in Sociology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Before moving to NYC for graduate school, he spent his entire life in California. Ryan grew up in Sacramento before moving to Los Angeles to attend UCLA, where he earned a B.S. in Psychobiology in 2019.
After graduating, Ryan began his career in student affairs at UCLA, where he has spent the past seven years supporting and advising undergraduate students. Most recently, he had the opportunity to design and launch an online college access scholarship program for low-income California high school students. He continues to serve as the program coordinator while completing his master's degree, giving him the opportunity to live his best bi-coastal life!
Ryan's academic interests include educational testing, academic tracking, and the ways these systems reinforce the idea of meritocracy, as well as how they shape students' educational journeys, particularly in relation to college access and higher education. He is deeply committed to expanding educational opportunity and hopes to continue working toward making higher education systems more accessible, equitable, and supportive for all students.
Outside of school and work, you can usually find Ryan on the hunt for the best cookies in New York City!
Ryan is currently pursuing an M.A. in Sociology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Before moving to NYC for graduate school, he spent his entire life in California. Ryan grew up in Sacramento before moving to Los Angeles to attend UCLA, where he earned a B.S. in Psychobiology in 2019.
After graduating, Ryan began his career in student affairs at UCLA, where he has spent the past seven years supporting and advising undergraduate students. Most recently, he had the opportunity to design and launch an online college access scholarship program for low-income California high school students. He continues to serve as the program coordinator while completing his master's degree, giving him the opportunity to live his best bi-coastal life!
Ryan's academic interests include educational testing, academic tracking, and the ways these systems reinforce the idea of meritocracy, as well as how they shape students' educational journeys, particularly in relation to college access and higher education. He is deeply committed to expanding educational opportunity and hopes to continue working toward making higher education systems more accessible, equitable, and supportive for all students.
Outside of school and work, you can usually find Ryan on the hunt for the best cookies in New York City!
Louise (Lingxin) Lu is an M.A. student in the Sociology and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Public Relations from Boston University.
Originally from China, Louise moved to the U.S. during high school, where she developed a cross-cultural lens for understanding how different education systems shape students’ outcomes. Her academic interests lie in youth development, educational equity, and the social foundations of schooling.
Louise has interned with Junior Achievement China and worked with nonprofit organizations supporting youth leadership and career readiness. She is especially interested in how school practices and education policies affect students from underserved backgrounds, and how educators can cultivate empathetic, culturally responsive learning environments even within rigid systems.
While her undergraduate honors thesis focused on women’s childbearing decision in China, it also looked into how ideas of meritocracy and parenting strategies shape their perspectives. The research illuminated the invisible roles women often play in sustaining academic success—whether as mothers, educators, or behind-the-scenes supporters. This understanding continues to inform her current interest in emotional labor, recognition, and the ways care work is distributed and valued in organizations.
At Teachers College, Louise hopes to connect with like-minded peers and mentors who are committed to reimagining systems of support and accountability. She believes this kind of work is essential to building more hopeful communities.
Louise (Lingxin) Lu is an M.A. student in the Sociology and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Public Relations from Boston University.
Originally from China, Louise moved to the U.S. during high school, where she developed a cross-cultural lens for understanding how different education systems shape students’ outcomes. Her academic interests lie in youth development, educational equity, and the social foundations of schooling.
Louise has interned with Junior Achievement China and worked with nonprofit organizations supporting youth leadership and career readiness. She is especially interested in how school practices and education policies affect students from underserved backgrounds, and how educators can cultivate empathetic, culturally responsive learning environments even within rigid systems.
While her undergraduate honors thesis focused on women’s childbearing decision in China, it also looked into how ideas of meritocracy and parenting strategies shape their perspectives. The research illuminated the invisible roles women often play in sustaining academic success—whether as mothers, educators, or behind-the-scenes supporters. This understanding continues to inform her current interest in emotional labor, recognition, and the ways care work is distributed and valued in organizations.
At Teachers College, Louise hopes to connect with like-minded peers and mentors who are committed to reimagining systems of support and accountability. She believes this kind of work is essential to building more hopeful communities.
Damion T. Robinson (he/him/his) is an Ed.M. candidate in the Sociology and Education program, at Teachers College. He currently teaches upper elementary school in Harlem, NY and has a deep love for Social Justice and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, one of the largest honors societies for the field of Education, and was the chapter president for CUNY York College. While an undergraduate student, Damion served as the Student Ambassador for the CUNY York College’s chapter of NYC Men’s Teach program and was a foundational contributor to York’s Social Justice Summer Camp. Prior to teaching, Damion worked as a paraprofessional for many years in NYC’s District 75.
Outside of Education, Damion T. is an itinerate performer (actor/singer) and key member of Sing Harlem, an artist collective cultivated in Harlem, NY. Damion has traveled extensively across the United States, Canada, Jamaica , and England sharing joy and positivity.
Damion’s favourite encouragement to give says “the sky is way too low to be the limit”. With this degree, Damion T. Robinson aims to bring more awareness in academic spaces, affecting educational policy and advocating for Equity.
Damion T. Robinson (he/him/his) is an Ed.M. candidate in the Sociology and Education program, at Teachers College. He currently teaches upper elementary school in Harlem, NY and has a deep love for Social Justice and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, one of the largest honors societies for the field of Education, and was the chapter president for CUNY York College. While an undergraduate student, Damion served as the Student Ambassador for the CUNY York College’s chapter of NYC Men’s Teach program and was a foundational contributor to York’s Social Justice Summer Camp. Prior to teaching, Damion worked as a paraprofessional for many years in NYC’s District 75.
Outside of Education, Damion T. is an itinerate performer (actor/singer) and key member of Sing Harlem, an artist collective cultivated in Harlem, NY. Damion has traveled extensively across the United States, Canada, Jamaica , and England sharing joy and positivity.
Damion’s favourite encouragement to give says “the sky is way too low to be the limit”. With this degree, Damion T. Robinson aims to bring more awareness in academic spaces, affecting educational policy and advocating for Equity.
Olivia Witting (she/her) is a second-year M.A. student in the Sociology and Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her B.A. in English Literature with departmental honors from Stanford University in 2018 and has spent the past seven years working in undergraduate admissions. Olivia currently serves as Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Columbia University.
Having attended a public high school in Queens, Olivia is a proud New Yorker. Her academic interests include urban education, educational equity, and college access for first-generation and low-income students. Her current research interests focus on how cultural capital and institutional practices shape the postsecondary experiences of marginalized youth, particularly in selective college admissions. Olivia is especially interested in the intersection of race, class, and disability in educational contexts and she draws on critical and qualitative methodologies to explore these dynamics.
In her free time, Olivia plays softball on Randall's Island with other queer athletes through the Big Apple Softball League. She encourages all new Teachers College students to take the A train to Rockaway Beach for some sunshine and ocean waves before the fall weather sets in!
Olivia Witting (she/her) is a second-year M.A. student in the Sociology and Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her B.A. in English Literature with departmental honors from Stanford University in 2018 and has spent the past seven years working in undergraduate admissions. Olivia currently serves as Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Columbia University.
Having attended a public high school in Queens, Olivia is a proud New Yorker. Her academic interests include urban education, educational equity, and college access for first-generation and low-income students. Her current research interests focus on how cultural capital and institutional practices shape the postsecondary experiences of marginalized youth, particularly in selective college admissions. Olivia is especially interested in the intersection of race, class, and disability in educational contexts and she draws on critical and qualitative methodologies to explore these dynamics.
In her free time, Olivia plays softball on Randall's Island with other queer athletes through the Big Apple Softball League. She encourages all new Teachers College students to take the A train to Rockaway Beach for some sunshine and ocean waves before the fall weather sets in!