Directory

I joined the Senate to amplify diverse student voices, foster a safe space for open dialogue, and unite the international community, with a focus on supporting international and multilingual students. I enjoy learning and speaking multiple languages. I am fluent in English, German, Hindi, and Punjabi.

Your voices, experiences, and perspectives matter deeply. Together, we are a supportive community where we encourage each other to grow. Let’s stand united and embrace our diversity in the campus where we all belong.”

Born and raised in Southside Jamaica, Queens, Shapel M. LaBorde is a Ph.D. student (2nd Year) in Philosophy and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. As the Arts and Humanities Senator and member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, she advocates for belonging, representation, and radical care across campus. A longtime NYC ENL/MLL educator, she is passionate about creating transformative learning spaces that honor culture and community. Her research explores Black feminist thought, ancestral knowledge, and education as liberation. Outside of academia, Shapel is a fabulous mother, wellness entrepreneur, and founder of Blyssom by Shapel, a holistic beauty brand.

DeMaris Richardson is a first-year M.S. student in the Neuroscience and Education program and the newly elected Senator for the Biobehavioral Sciences department. Passionate about the intersection of neuroscience and medicine, she aims to build connections and foster a robust, supportive science community. Her dream is to become a physician who integrates neuroscience into clinical practice, inspiring real change. DeMaris graduated from East Carolina University in 2021 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Natural Composite Science. During undergrad, as the founder and president of “Mocha Girls n’ Medicine”, she championed women of color pursuing careers in medicine. Aside from that, her participation in Alzheimer’s research at North Carolina A&T’s Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s and Aging (COAACH) solidified her passion for neuroscience. Professionally, DeMaris has worked as a registered behavior technician, foster care case manager, and training coordinator in the foster care system. These roles provided her with firsthand insight into the challenges faced by vulnerable youth and families, further fueling her commitment to using neuroscience to address real-world needs. Her experiences in foster care taught her the importance of compassionate advocacy and inspired her to bridge science with community impact.

As a Senator, DeMaris is eager to represent her peers, champion collaboration, and ensure that every student feels welcome from orientation to graduation. Outside of academics, she loves spending time with her husband and their golden retriever, Milo. DeMaris is a dedicated Lakers fan, an enthusiastic home chef, and enjoys discovering new music from all genres.

Jen Chu is a Department Senator for the Clinical & Counseling Psychology department and the Committee Chair for the Grounds and Resources committee. She is studying Psychology with a Spirituality, Mind, Body concentration and is working toward becoming a mental health professional who integrates ancient wisdom with modern psychology.

She is committed to making sure people feel seen and heard and fostering positive working environments, skills she strengthened in her last role where she was involved with her company's Culture Club and mentioned junior team members. Prior to TC, she spent six years in pharmaceutical public relations. Originally from NJ, Jen has been living in NYC for 10 years.

Feel free to connect with Jen at jc6727@tc.columbia.edu or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-chu/!

Ronnie Watts is originally from Rochester, NY, and is pursuing her M.A. in Psychology in Education with a Spirituality Mind Body area of focus. She joined the Student Senate to help create genuine connection across campus and ensure that every student feels seen, supported and heard within a community that truly cares.

With her passion for psychology, Ronnie hopes to develop a platform that helps young adults navigate their relationship to themselves and others, focusing on connection and meaning, through the lens of pop-culture influences. Outside of her studies, Ronnie is a singer-songwriter who loves using music as a way to connect with others and make people feel like someone 'gets it.' A fun fact about Ronnie is that she is part of the PacSun Collective, where she has modeled and performed for the brand.

Ronnie believes connection is at the heart of well-being and she's passionate about students feeling a true sense of belonging at TC. She is honored to represent the community and excited to continue creating spaces where every student feels valued, connected and inspired.

Hi everyone. I’m Maria! I am a fourth-year doctoral student in the Curriculum & Teaching Department and a Co-Leader of the Diverse & In(ter)dependent Student Alliance of Bodyminds: Leaders, Educators, & Dreamers (D.I.S.A.B.L.E.D.). I really enjoy thinking with art to ask questions about access and inclusion within school spaces. I’ve joined the Senate because I am deeply passionate about facilitating access to what scholar Jay Dolmage calls the “steep steps” of the academy to all bodies and minds. Feel free to email me anytime.

Hello everyone, I am Cate Baiyao Yu, a Master’s student in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. Over the past eight years, I have developed my teaching practice in the liberal arts, working with Chinese students aged 8 to 18 in bilingual educational settings. My pedagogical philosophy centers on round-table discussions—using literature, history, and philosophy as gateways to inspire humanistic inquiry and rigorous critical thinking. I believe that joining the Teachers College Student Senate offers a meaningful opportunity to bridge the student body with institutional leadership and administration, ensuring that student voices are heard and represented. This role aligns closely with my commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive academic community. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a doctorate in education to deepen our understanding of how individuals learn and to explore how instructional practices can more effectively support diverse learning modalities. Through rigorous research integrated with reflective teaching and learning practices, I aim to contribute to the development of an educational model that promotes inclusivity and cultivates highly motivating environments for both research and learning.

I joined student senate because I aspire to be a senator who listens like a sponge and stands like a rock—absorbing the voices of our community while building a strong foundation for belonging, growth, and joy at Teachers College.

Graduate school isn’t just about academics but about curating experiences and forming friendships that shape you into the person you were so wonderfully created to be.

I joined the Student Senate to represent the Department of Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology and ensure that the voices of my peers are heard in shaping policies and initiatives that affect our academic and campus experiences. I am passionate about creating an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment where all students, both domestic and international, feel valued and can thrive. Serving in the Senate allows me to contribute to decisions that promote student well-being, academic excellence, and community engagement.

Together, we can build a campus community where every student’s voice is valued and diversity is celebrated as our greatest strength. Let’s continue to support one another, strive for excellence, and use our education to make a lasting impact both here and in the world beyond our classrooms.

Originally from Beijing, China, I am an international doctoral student passionate about inclusive education and cross-cultural understanding. I joined the Student Senate to advocate for the needs and voices of students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. My goal is to help build a more supportive and accessible environment for all students—academically, socially, and in research. I believe that through collaboration with the Teachers College, we can create meaningful change and a stronger, more connected campus community.

I am an international PhD student in Science Education at Teachers College, originally from a small village in India. I am the first from my region to pursue a doctorate. My journey in the US began six years ago with a fully funded MS in Teaching at the University of Maine, where I became a certified high school physics teacher. I later taught in South Boston High, serving primarily economically disadvantaged students of color. That experience shaped my conviction that while teachers matter deeply, equity cannot be achieved without systemic change.

To pursue that mission, I began doctoral studies at UMass Dartmouth and later interned at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Over the past two years, I have published eight research papers on topics ranging from climate justice in Africa to equity in multilingual STEM classrooms. My work emphasizes AI ethics, translanguaging, play, and supporting teachers and students in high-need contexts.

My name is Renda Sun, and I’m a doctoral student in Science Education. As an international student from China who has lived in the United States for nearly ten years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from and contributing to diverse academic and cultural communities. It is a great honor to serve as the Departmental Senator for Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST), where I strive to represent the diverse voices of MST students, advocate for our shared needs, and strengthen collaboration across departments.

As a member of the Student Experience Committee, my focus is on supporting international students and doctoral students, ensuring that their experiences and perspectives are meaningfully included in institutional decisions. I’m passionate about building bridges between domestic and international communities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and helping create an inclusive, supportive environment where every student can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our shared future.