As part of our series, Careers in Education, we aim to explore diverse career opportunities available to our students and alumni.
The panelists will discuss their current positions and how their studies at the College of Education at Illinois impacted their professional pursuits. The second half of the session will enable participants to pose career-specific questions to the panelists and learn about how others might advance into their fields. You could join us for the entire session or the second half focused on career-specific questions. This event aims to inform current and prospective students about career possibilities.
Careers in Education: Online Programs Alumni Panel
Panelists: Emily Bridges, Adriene Lane, and Dr. Brian Egan
Topic: Online Programs Alumni Panel highlighting Student Experiences and Career Insights
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 14th, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Online via Zoom
Sponsor: The Office of Online Programs
Registration is required. Register Now!
Emily Bridges is currently in her 8th year of teaching high school English, and she teaches in the Fairfax County Public Schools System in Northern Virginia. Emily teaches IB Language and Literature Standard Level 1 to 11th-grade students and English to 10th-grade students. She completed the Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Perspectives and Practices in 2022. She is passionate about helping students grow in their writing confidence and fluency in reading nonfiction, and she loves to audit English curricula to ensure that more voices and perspectives are centered in high school reading lists.
Adriene Lane, a 2023 UIUC graduate with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in bilingual and bi-cultural education, completed her program online while teaching in Ecuador. She received a FLAS fellowship to study Kichwa, an indigenous language of Ecuador, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Illinois State University. Currently, as an English teacher at the French embassy school in Quito, Ecuador, she strives to connect her students to the world of language and culture. Beyond the classroom, Adriene leads initiatives promoting cultural diversity and indigenous language education in rural Ecuadorian schools, as well as spearheads the creation of a teach-abroad program for cross-cultural exchange and appreciation of the Galapagos Islands' unique environment and culture. Her educational journey is marked by a commitment to bridging cultural gaps and fostering linguistic diversity, nurtured during her time at UIUC.
Dr. Brian Egan, a recent graduate of the Education Policy, Organization & Leadership EdD program, with a concentration in Global Studies, completed his degree in the Fall of 2022 under the guidance of Dr. Allison Witt. His dissertation, titled "Short-Term, Faculty-Led Undergraduate Study Abroad Programs Using Reflection and Community Engagement As Transformation: A Mixed Method Study," reflects his dedication to education. Brian currently serves as a Senior Academic Specialist at Michigan State University, holding the position of Assistant Director of Student Affairs and International Engagement Coordinator within the College of Social Science. In this role, he passionately supports undergraduate students, particularly international, transfer, and first-year students, and those exploring majors in the college. Brian also takes pride in advising students in various minors and STAR students while teaching a First-Year Seminar course (UGS 110) at MSU. In addition to his routine responsibilities, Brian actively contributes to MSU's study abroad programs. Beyond his professional life, Brian is an accomplished Triathlete, recently conquering a full Ironman Triathlon and completing his 6th marathon. He also nurtures his passion for travel and language acquisition.
All are welcome. Please register if you plan to attend! Click here to register. You will receive the Zoom link upon registration. Please download the free Zoom software and set up an account to participate.
Click here to see all upcoming events. All event times are in Central Time.