Brenda Payan Medina (she/her) is a MA student in Higher and Postsecondary Education with TC’s Department of Organization and Leadership. Brenda’s interest in education and student support stems from her experiences as an undergraduate at the University of Utah, where she graduated in Materials Science and Engineering. At the University of Utah, Brenda involved herself in multiple internships, jobs, and volunteer positions in order to expand her understanding of the student experience, which is something she hopes to continue learning about during her time at TC and in her career. In her free time, Brenda enjoys walks, cooking, and painting.
Primary Areas of Focus:
- Academic Readiness
- First-Gen Programming
- New Student Orientation
Caroline is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Music and Music Education at Teachers College. She has extensive international experience as a researcher, educator, and organizational leader across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Her experience includes research assistance on policy-focused and accreditation-related projects, literature reviews and annotated bibliographies, data organization, and collaboration on publications related to the National Association of Schools of Music. She has also taught at the university level in areas including music and society, education and technology, and AI ethics. She brings deep experience in curriculum design, communication, and community engagement. Caroline is particularly interested in contributing to research writing support, ethics education, and resource development that intersect with arts-based research, policy, and global or cross-cultural contexts.
Xujun (Daisy) Wang (she/her) is a master’s student in Applied Statistics at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Economic Statistics from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, where she built a solid foundation in statistical theory, econometrics, and data analysis. Her academic interests focus on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and business analytics, with a particular enthusiasm for applying data-driven methods to real-world decision-making.
As a Statistics Fellow, Daisy supports students by helping them navigate statistical concepts, data analysis workflows, and tools such as R and Python, with an emphasis on clear communication and practical understanding. Outside of academics, she is passionate about street dance and has been dancing for over eight years, with street jazz as her favorite style. Daisy enjoys combining creativity with analytical thinking and is excited about making statistics more accessible and engaging for others.
Joel (he/him) is studying an EdM in Language Use through the Applied Linguistics program at Teachers College. In his research, Joel is interested in person reference and how we craft descriptions in spoken and written formats. He has earned a BA from New York University in Linguistics, with minors in Music and Creative Writing, and an MA in Linguistics from the University of Hong Kong, writing a dissertation to document an endangered dialect of Cantonese. Before coming to TC he was a full-time proofreader for six years while volunteering at different professional organizations. Joel specializes in working with multilingual writers and teaching academic writing. Leveraging his own linguistic expertise, he advocates for pedagogical approaches to providing feedback. Schedule a meeting with Joel to identify patterns in your writing and make an individualized roadmap for your future success! For fun, Joel plays video games, explores coffee shops around the city, and sings in local karaoke and piano bars.
Miranda (she/her) is a first year PhD student in English Education. She was guided to Teachers College by four years teaching high school English in Washington state, and is passionate about supporting student autonomy and identity development in ELA classrooms. Her teaching experience also nourished a love for student support, and she is excited to help support her fellow PhD students as they embark on the journey towards dissertation together! Outside of class and work, Miranda loves to bake, watch movies, craft, take long walks, and explore New York City.
Neha (she/her) is a doctoral student in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. She works as a research assistant for the Bilingual & Bicultural Education program and for the D9 Bronx Project with University of Michigan. Her professional experience includes drafting Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposals, conducting and editing literature reviews, and interviewing participants for research. Neha also developed skills in coding and analyzing qualitative data, which has enhanced her research capabilities. Teaching has been another significant part of her career; she taught over ten courses at both the master’s and undergraduate levels, contributing to curriculum development, facilitating classroom discussions, and guiding students through both traditional in-person settings and innovative remote and hybrid formats. With a passion for bilingual education and inclusive education, Neha is dedicated to working with students with disabilities and utilizing inclusive practices that ensure all learners receive the support needed to thrive. She is committed to advocating for accessible and equitable education for all students. In her free time, Neha likes to paint, try new recipes, and watch movies in different languages (with subtitles, of course!).
Megan is a second year masters student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. After completing her bachelor's degree majoring in social anthropology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Megan returned to the U.S. and worked as a Montessori educator at the upper elementary level in central Florida for five years, earning her Florida Educator Certificate and Montessori Upper Elementary Teaching Certificate. Megan is passionate about psychology, education, language and writing. In her spare time, Megan enjoys practicing yoga and sharing her passion for mindfulness and movement as a part-time yoga instructor. She also enjoys exploring the mind-body connection through practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu and archery, finding peace and focus in this ancient art. Megan's research interests include flow states and experiences, the healing power of movement, psychosomatic interventions for anxiety disorders, and resilience.