Micaela is graduating from the Neag School of Education with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a Minor in Spanish. Jason G. Irizarry, a Dean and a Professor, notes that “Micaela has shown in her leadership, interaction with peers, and coursework a commitment to knowledge of self and of others in order to work toward justice.” This is reflective in her honors thesis titled “Really? You’re Puerto Rican?” An Autoethnographic Exploration of a Multicultural Preservice Teacher.” With this paper, her hope is that she can provide pre-service and in-service teachers more insight into how to best support multiracial students by showing the experiences that these aforementioned students might have through her own firsthand accounts.

Micaela has also displayed strong leadership skills as co-secretary and vice president of the executive board of the Leadership in Diversity mentoring program. In her position, Micaela has planned workshops that help promote multicultural education, creating a welcoming environment for students to learn more about culturally diverse topics. With her participation in this program, Michaela has also had many opportunities for overall growth, gained confidence in her identity as a multiracial woman, and strives to help others feel the same.  Additionally, she has been involved in the Natchaug After School Tutoring Program since she arrived at UConn and for the past 2 years has been the program director.

After graduating, Micaela plans on being an elementary school teacher in Connecticut with the aim to teach in the upper elementary grades, a dream of hers since she was five, and is looking forward to spending as much time in the classroom as she possibly can.