Elba Moise was in the first cohort of the GCCUT program in 2013. She concurrently earned her MPH from the College of Health from the International Health program in 2014. During her time at OSU she served as president of the International Health Club, was a representative on the Graduate Student Council, and guest lectured in public health classes. She is passionate about gender and racial equality especially in regard to equalizing access to education. She had the opportunity to interview Chelsea Clinton during the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in 2015.

After completing her program at OSU she enrolled in the PhD program for multicultural education at the University of Washington. She currently works at the Center for Teaching and Learning, is a student ambassador, and is an instructor in the Pipeline Project at UW.

Q&A with Elba Moise

How has taking part in the GCCUT program affected your current teaching position at the University of Washington?

GCCUT was an amazing program! I can’t imagine not having participated in a program like that. I had always been interested in expanding my teaching and facilitation skills, and while I had several opportunities to do that in school, the GCCUT created experiential learning opportunities. Everything I learned I was able to connect and apply it to hands on teaching internship experiences. Since participating in the first GCCUT cohort, I am constantly using all the skills and experiences I learned through GCCUT courses and seminars and GCCUT teaching Internships. I have had so many wonderful teaching and facilitation opportunities and experiences as a result. The GCCUT program has also given me a new lens to approach daily interactions with others in person and online. I have also been noticing a trend, the more I talk to people, sit in classes, and engage in study groups and meetings...people want tools, like the tools we receive in GCCUT, to further their work in schools, classrooms, workplace, communities, etc.

I feel very privileged and humbled to have had this opportunity to be part of the program. I always find myself talking to someone about how the courses in GCCUT and how the instructors would practice/model what we would learn in class creating the opportunity to engage deeply with the material. During one of my conversations, with another colleague (grad student at a different institution) who is currently teaching courses, they literally stopped and got a pen and paper to write down my experiences and some of the strategies that I learned and use in classes to create positive, inclusive, and fun learning environments. They were so excited to hear about what I had learned and done and could not wait to try some of the strategies in their class! I realized then how much GCCUT prepared me and how crucial it is for professional development. This program prepares you for your future . The program gives you the tools and experiences needed to stand out when applying for internships, jobs, facilitation experiences and etc. Not only was I able to complete the program in 1 year along with my other classes and work, I was able to learn about the fundamentals in learning theories, course design and methods, take specialized areas of interest courses, participate in a supervised internship, a capstone and most importantly I was able to build a life long community of support and friendships in the cohort.

The support I received from instructors, especially Jessica White, nudged me to recognize my strengths as a learner and educator that served as a catalyst for my personal, social, and academic growth. This program helped me thrive in a variety of settings and most importantly helped me develop the skills and tools to support learners at various stages so they can thrive also. As an educator and a learner, this program was such a transformative learning experience, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Everything I learned continues to impact how I engage with others in all types of settings. I strongly believe that GCCUT is a program that prepares educators and learners to work effectively with others and become leaders in Higher Education. I hope this program continues as it changes the lives of those of us who participate as well as the lives of the people we work with. Thus, regardless of the amount of previous teaching or facilitation experience, I encourage anyone and everyone to apply. This program gives you the opportunity to thrive as a learner and an educator in order to create positive change in a variety of settings. GCCUT has affected not just my current teaching position, but so many other aspects of teaching and learning, which is happening everywhere and everyday! Thank you GCCUT!

Please list the course(s) that you teach and briefly state what your responsibilities are.

This past school year, I volunteered as a Pipeline Project Seminar instructor. As an instructor Pipeline Project, I developed curriculum for a two-quarter pilot seminar that engages undergraduate students in exploring the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. as well as locally in Seattle. The class provides opportunities for learners to understand their own social memberships related to power and privilege and analyze their own positionality to the Civil Rights Movement. I also was in charge of developing the syllabus, grading, preparing class content (in class activities/assignments, homework assignments, projects, etc.), leading/facilitating class lectures (co-learning and co educating community), grading, facilitating group discussions, planning and implementing active learning activities. I strived to create a positive and welcoming environment for all students so they felt comfortable enough to make mistakes in the classroom. We can learn from and with our mistakes!