Megan is an elementary and special education major with certificates in emotional behavior disorders and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The Maple Grove, MN native toured many schools, saving the best for last. She was sure that UWEC’s education program, wide array of clubs and activities, and ability to support its students would make it the perfect place to develop her skills and passions.
Campus Involvements
Megan has participated in no shortage of activities during her time in college. As someone who loves public speaking, working as a campus ambassador and sharing her experiences with prospective students has been a dream.
She also has a passion for music and has participated in the Blugold Indoor Drumline, as well as the Blugold Marching Band (BMB), where she plays the trombone. She says that being in the BMB “really helped with the transition to college,” because she got to know the campus well before classes started. Megan met her roommates through marching band and has also been on the leadership team as a section leader for the past two years.
Through BMB trips, Megan traveled to New Zealand, Australia, and Central America. She really values these opportunities and will be able to provide a firsthand perspective on experiencing different cultures for her students.
Honors
A sentiment shared among students is that fulfilling Liberal Education requirements is “arduous and boring,” according to Megan. But because of Honors, she enjoyed fulfilling her requirements. She says her classes were fulfilling and engaging, especially HNRS 347 The Quiet One: The Art of Musing, taught by CV Peterson. Stepping away from the busyness of life, this class invites students to self-reflect, explore their interests, and develop creative outlets. Megan continues to embroider, a hobby she took up during this course.
Honors classes emphasize “exploring different subjects, getting creative, and connecting with other people,” Megan says, as opposed to focusing on individual grades.
Beyond her coursework, Megan was part of the Honors Student Council, and she was the Event Coordinator for the Honors program for four years. Planning safe and social events was difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic, but Megan learned to navigate these challenges. The job provided her with numerous connections, some of whom became her mentors, including the director of the Honors department, Dr. Fielding.
“Megan has truly left a legacy in Honors. She kept the honors community alive during covid, and mentored a new generation of student leaders. I relied on her creativity, insight, dedication, and resilience when I first started at UWEC—and I have learned a lot from her,” says Dr. Fielding.
Not only is Dr. Fielding one of Megan’s mentors, but it was also at her house that Megan got locked in the bathroom, requiring the Honors Student Council to rescue her. Today, Megan holds no resentment for Dr. Fielding’s door, and it has become one of her most cherished memories.
Events that bring everyone together, like the Honors Soiree and Starry Night event, are always fun for Megan.
Mixing Education, EDI, and Honors
Megan has known since high school that she wanted to be a teacher; being a Girl Scout as a child instilled a sense of leadership in her. Although she was initially interested in teaching music, she is most passionate about early intervention work in kindergarten to 3rd grade.
One of her biggest accomplishments at UWEC was presenting at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in 2023. Her presentation focused on strategies for culturally responsive teaching and featured a discussion-based framework.
“Half of my NCUR presentation was just on the fly,” she says. As people came up with ideas, they would go through the framework together to decide how the topic should be approached with students.
Her experience working as an honors student staff member and a trombone section leader has taught her responsibility, as she was representing programs that were bigger than her. She says “being able to follow through on that and help everyone that you're leading” will be incredibly important when she teaches.
Moving Forward
Although she does not recommend that students overwork themselves, her many involvements on campus have had a meaningful impact on her college experience. She encourages students, especially those in the same major as her, to remember why they are in college. Writing things down and taking advantage of everything being taught is the best way to get the most out of a degree.
Megan plans to be a long-term substitute for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District post-graduation.
