Rachel Wolkenhaur, Curriculum, Teaching, & Teacher Education
Very soon after beginning my work as a PhD student in Curriculum, Teaching, and Teacher Education, I realized that with my acceptance into the University of Florida’s School of Teaching and Learning, I was being invited into a culture of exploration, support, and collaboration.  There is a palpable sense of collective purpose among the faculty, staff, and students of STL.  With an intense passion and drive for our work, we stay closely connected to the wider education community and hold an unwavering belief in the ability of teachers to lead, empower, and inspire learning.  The rigorous academic work is always purposeful and relevant as we strive to make positive and immediate impact on the field of education.  As a student in STL, I have the chance to practice being the kind of educator, researcher and learner I aspire to be, one who works collaboratively, meaningfully, and reflectively in order to seek the change we hope for in schools, alongside mentors and colleagues who constantly push my thinking and nurture my growth.

Cheryl McLaughlin, Science Education
Very early into my program, I was given the opportunity to coauthor and co-present papers at regional and national conferences; teach undergraduate courses within my field of study; coauthor manuscripts for submission to journals; and participate in the implementation of workshops and content clinics.  These experiences serve not only to immerse me into the culture of academia in a gradual and systematic way but they also contribute to my development as a productive, well-rounded individual in a global society. To her credit, my advisor here in the School of Teaching & Learning has been very supportive of my endeavors and has made my transition into the program, as an international student, rather seamless.

Nate Poling, Educational Technology
I feel that my doctoral experiences at the School of Teaching and Learning have certainly helped prepare me for a challenging and fast-paced professional world. Having an extremely supportive and helpful advisor and committee has really allowed me to expand both my professional and academic horizons. Perhaps one of the most valuable experiences has been the opportunity to work with other departments and colleges here at the University of Florida. While the doctoral degree I am working on at the College of Education has an emphasis on Educational Technology, I have also taught courses through the UF Honors Program and have consulted on projects for the UF College of Medicine. I have found this cross disciplinary collaboration and the high level of support that I have received throughout my program to be the primary reasons for my positive doctoral experience.

Amy Martinelli, Social Foundations of Education
As a doctoral student of History of Education in the School of Teaching and Learning, I’ve begun to learn the skills that I will need when my time in graduate school is over and my work as a scholar begins.  There are ample opportunities to be involved in research and teaching.  However, it is not just the high-class academics that make STL so great.  STL embodies what a good quality graduate studies program should be with a creative and established faculty who encourage collaboration and innovation, and graduate students eager to follow in our mentors’ footsteps, while forging new avenues of research.  The work is challenging, enlightening, and at times overwhelming, but STL offers an encouraging environment in which I have felt free to explore the many possibilities of a degree in Curriculum and Instruction.