Hello

I often find it difficult to introduce myself because I do not know how to sum my life's worth of experiences into just a few short sentences. Every experience I have had up until this point has influenced me in one way or another, so how do I pinpoint the exact ones that define me? When I do introduce myself, I often start by saying I am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians because, to me, that is my home and where I became the person I am today. I tell people I am a military spouse and a new mom because those are the titles I hold closest to my heart. After that comes the mundane things like being a middle school Spanish teacher or loving the outdoors, which do not sound important, but it is how I spend my day-to-day life.   

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Academically, I strive to learn and promote culturally sustaining and critical pedagogy because growing up and during my undergraduate, I felt like an outsider being Native American, and I never want anyone to feel the same way I did. My desire to pursue higher education rests in my desire to give back to my community because they have given me so much. Through the Michigan Indian Tuition Wavier, I have been able to attend Michigan State for the last five years and not worry about how I would pay tuition, which is an enormous privilege and one I will never take for granted. I want every Indigenous child to feel comfortable in a classroom, strive for education, and continue giving back to their community. By pursuing this degree, I aim to promote research-based pedagogy that prioritizes students' individual needs to increase student success rates.

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While attending MSU as an undergraduate student, I found my husband, and we got married during my senior year. He left shortly after for Navy boot camp, and I finished out my degree moving three separate times, all in six months. We ended up in Washington, where we learned just how much it could rain, how many different types of rain there are, and how wonderful sunshine feels after weeks of rain. In all seriousness, we traveled the Pacific Northwest to countless State Parks and six National Parks. We hiked for miles and miles until we found the state's hidden gems. In 2023, we welcomed our son into our adventure, and while our crazy off-road camping adventures took a pause, we found beautiful places to explore close to home. 
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When my husband left the Navy, we decided to return to Michigan so I could pursue a Doctorate of Education at Michigan State. This meant we had one last cross-country move to complete, which we just finished this summer. We are happy to be back in the state we grew up in and to have support from our families as we grow ours. We are especially happy to be back for MSU football! GO GREEN!