Interview with Samantha Stewart
Outdoor Classroom Specialist Teacher
Westminster Presbyterian Church Preschool
UCLA, Bachelors, Psychology, ‘17
CSUN, Masters, Educational Psychology (Early Childhood Education emphasis), ‘21
Why did you choose CSUN, what did you study, and what was your experience at CSUN?
I chose CSUN because I liked that there was a Masters program specifically for Early Childhood Education. I had been working in ECE for 4 years before starting my program, so it was something in which I knew I wanted to grow my knowledge and get an advanced degree. A coworker of mine also completed the CSUN ECE Masters program shortly before I applied, so I was able to hear about her experiences and had an idea of what I was getting into. She spoke highly of the faculty and her coursework, so I was excited to jump in.
I spent one full semester on campus taking evening classes. We learned about theory and got so many resources of which I was previously unaware. But most importantly, I gained an incredible community. The faculty of the program creates such a warm and welcoming environment that our cohort of just over 20 people felt like a family. A few weeks into my second semester, COVID-19 quarantine began and everything went online. Our faculty and TAs worked tirelessly to transition us to an online platform, and we were able to maintain our connections and high level of conversation about important topics.
The following three semesters of my 2.5-year program were online as well. I was a TA for one of the first-year classes and I learned so much about Canvas and how to build the community that makes our program so special. I did not get the full Matador experience since I spent so little time on campus during my Masters program, but I am thrilled to continue working with CSUN as an Alumni Chapter Board Member.
What do you think is important about CSUN’s role in the community?
Each time I spend time with our Alumni Chapter Board, I learn more about the ways CSUN, especially the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, connects with and positively impacts the community. The ECE Masters program faculty, and program culture as a whole, really promoted social justice and advancing the field. Education is an underappreciated profession, and the work CSUN does provides more legitimacy and professionalism for the field by showing what we are capable of! I am impressed by the scholarships and grants of which the Michael D. Eisner College of Education is in charge, such as vital work with LAUSD, and the accomplishments make me proud to be a Matador!
Why did you join the Alumni Chapter Board?
Graduating while CSUN was still doing classes online, my cohort of ECE Masters students was interested in finding ways to stay connected with each other and our broader CSUN community, so we started meeting as an alumni group and thinking about events we could do. We wanted to be recognized by the university, so we connected with the Education Alumni Chapter. They invited us to send representatives from our ECE group to serve as Board members, and our group nominated myself and Samantha Garcia as these representatives. I am thrilled to be able to serve as a liaison between the Early Childhood Education Masters Alumni who still meet regularly, and the Education Alumni Chapter Board.
What do you hope to accomplish on the board?
I hope to learn more about other facets of Education by working closely with representatives from other Michael D. Eisner College of Education programs, connect alumni with resources and information through exciting events and opportunities, and make a positive impact!
Would you encourage others to join?
I would absolutely encourage others to join the Alumni Chapter because the board is such a passionate group of people who think deeply about what alumni want in an event and how to support the wider community. The Alumni Chapter connects people and helps give educators a voice. Networking is important in Education just as much as any other field, and the Alumni Chapter provides a way for us to connect with other alumni, faculty, and the community.