Insights from CTRL Student Partners
Resources Developed by Student Partners
The following resources were developed by CTRL’s Student Partners, individually and collaboratively. Over the course of a semester, Student Partners chose a topic to focus on, and wrote up their insights based on their personal experience, knowledge from coursework, and interactions with other students, faculty, and/or staff on campus. Click on each to learn more about their project and the key takeaways.
Understanding the Student Experience
“It’s not us versus them”: The importance of partnering with students, CTRL Student Partner Team, in The CTRL Beat, January 2024
Fish out of Water: Voices of First-gen, Low-income, and/or Rural Students, Ciel Smith
The Romanticization of Academic Trauma: How Do We React to Failure in the Pursuit of Greatness?, Marie Dioneda
This is What College Has Taught Me, Marie Dioneda
Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Classroom
Accessibility (@AU?): A CTRL Student Partner Inquiry and Investment into the Undermined Struggle of Inaccessibility, Reba Mathews
De-Marginalizing Feminine Speech in the Classroom, Gabriela Rupp
Increasing Inclusivity Within STEM Classrooms, Allison Sattler
Increasing Inclusivity Within STEM Curricula, Allison Sattler
Varying Means of Participation to Support All Learners, Nathaniel Smith
Building Bridges Between Faculty and Students
Shifting the Role: Creating Cognitive Comprehension, Nathaniel Smith
Confronting Academic Violence: The Role of Professors in Trauma-Informed Conversations, Qudsia Saeed
Supporting Students During Ramadan, Qudsia Saeed
Enhancing the Educator-Student Dynamic at AU, Reba Mathews & Kimiya Parker-Hill
Students and Educators Learning Together, Kimiya Parker-Hill
Meet our Student Partners
Reba Mathews
Reba Mathews
Women & Gender Studies
Partner: Spring 2023, Fall 2023, & Spring 2024
“Working at CTRL has allowed me to do meaningful work for AU as a student who wishes to better the teaching culture for both staff and students. I was surrounded by CTRL mentors who were always encouraging and helped us bring our ideas to life.”
Nasaiah Algarin
Nasaiah Algarin
Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics & Government (CLEG) & Minor in Education
Partner: Fall 2024
“Being a student partner to me means bridging faculty and student communities, serving as a resource for all university leaders. I hope to bring statistics to life through storytelling, ultimately fostering a more inclusive campus where everyone belongs.”
Gabriela Rupp
Gabriela Rupp
Secondary Education, Political Science, & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Partner: Spring 2024 & Fall 2024
“As a CTRL partner, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work towards a more inclusive and wide-reaching representation of student voice in academics at AU. Through this role, I hope to actively engage with students and faculty to promote equity and efficacy in the classroom, so that AU can live up to its central priority of ‘Inclusive Excellence.'”
Katelyn Lewicky
Katelyn Lewicky
Business Administration & Marketing
Partner: Fall 2024
“To me, being a student partner represents bridging the gap between the vast needs of the student body with the capability of staff and faculty to fulfill those needs. I am eager to work towards a goal of radical inclusion within American University for all students and staff.”
Zo Wofford
Zo Wofford
Critical Race, Gender & Culture Studies
Partner: Fall 2024
“To me, being a student partner means finding ways for students and faculty to understand one another, which I believe is the foundation for a quality learning environment. Bridging gaps between one another is the key to creating collective knowledge where not only do students learn from faculty, but faculty learn from students as well.”
Previous Student Partners
Marie Dioneda
Marie Dioneda
Literature & Education Studies
Partner: Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
“As a CTRL Student Partner, I feel lucky to be in such a collaborative and welcoming role, where everyone respects and loves the art of learning. At the end of the day, anyone can learn from anyone, and I’m excited to see where being a CTRL partner takes me!”
Kimiya Parker-Hill
Kimiya Parker-Hill
Justice & Law
Partner: Spring 2023 & Fall 2023
“Being a CTRL Student Partner has been a valuable experience because I get to focus my ambition toward equitable learning environments. This experience is great for people who want to take a deeper look into our AU community and spread awareness for enhancing educational experiences.”
Qudsia Saeed
Qudsia Saeed
Elementary Education & Arab World Studies
Partner: Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
“Being a student partner with CTRL means contributing to a more inclusive and supportive academic environment at American University by collaborating with the professors, sharing insights, and advocating for student needs. CTRL plays a significant role in advancing teaching and learning, and I’m excited to be a part of this change and look forward to making a positive impact.”
Alli Sattler
Alli Sattler
Math & Secondary Education
Partner: Spring 2023 & Fall 2023
“I have enjoyed working with CTRL because I have been able to gain leadership experience and create work that is meaningful to me and has the potential to make a profound impact on campus.”
Ciel Smith
Ciel Smith
International Relations
Partner: Spring 2024 & Fall 2024
“Being a CTRL student partner not only provides me with valuable work experience, but also gives me the opportunity to help shape AU’s classrooms into more equitable and welcoming environments. I look forward to collaborating with my peers to create resources for faculty that can facilitate all students’ unique learning journeys.”
Nathaniel Smith
Nathaniel Smith
History & Secondary Education
Partner: Spring 2023 & Fall 2023
“As a CTRL Student Partner I not only get to create a permanent resource for professors to become better teachers but also gain presentation and leadership experience. Plus, you are given the freedom to design and come up with that resource.”
