Elise Brod is a PhD student in Mathematics studying low-dimensional geometric topology. At the CTL, Elise is a Graduate Teaching Consultant and they teach sections of GRS 097 for graduate students in the College of Natural Sciences. They are interested in exploring ways to include inquiry-based learning in college math classrooms, thinking about how types of grading/assessment/feedback affect student learning outcomes, and improving undergraduate STEM education by helping graduate students become more confident and effective college teachers.

Yiqiu “Echo” Yan (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Educational Psychology at UT Austin. She researches field-specific ability beliefs (FABs), perceived mindsets, cultural competence, and student motivation in context. Echo works with Dr. Katherine Muenks in the Learning and Motivational Beliefs Lab and collaborates with the Science of Learning and Metacognition Lab. She is passionate about understanding how students interpret social messages in academic settings and how those beliefs shape their motivation and identity. Echo earned her B.A. in Retail Management from Purdue University and M.Ed. in Quantitative Methods here at UT. 

Jo Hurt (she/her) is Graduate Research Assistant in the Graduate Student Development program at the Center for Teaching and Learning. In her work at the CTL, she has helped to develop, support, and teach the GRS 097: Fundamentals for Teaching Assistants course, which helps prepare first-time TAs as compassionate, accessible, and effective teachers. She has also helped to develop workshops for the Teaching Preparation Series and continues to work with these programs as well as on developing further pathways for graduate students to develop pedagogically and professionally. She is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Rhetoric and Writing Department at UT and holds an MA in English Language and Literature from Western Washington University.

Claire Brandes (she/her) is a PhD student in Biological Anthropology. Her research employs faunal analysis to understand the environmental context of human evolution in Africa during the Plio-Pleistocene. At the CTL, Claire works as a Graduate Research Assistant for Teaching and Learning Evaluation and Assessment. 

Web Designer (UX/UI), Data Management, & Program Assistant, Provost’s Teaching Fellows Program

Sean Edwards (he/him) is an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a degree in Radio-Television-Film. He works as the Communications Specialist for the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). Sean attended the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts with a specialization in Visual Arts. He is a current member of the Moody College of Communication Communication Council Media Committee, and an Assistant Editor and Crew Member for the Television Show Sneak Peek. Previously he worked on the Teen Council for the Contemporary Art Museum Houston and most recently as a Video Content and Marketing Intern for Hai Hospitality. Sean is committed to use his diverse experiences to help bridge the gap between communication, creativity, marketing, and film.

Teresa Blumenthal teaches Spanish and is a Ph.D. candidate in the Spanish and Portuguese Department at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests include Spanish as a Heritage Language, language learner motivation, Spanish in the U.S., and language ideologies. Her teaching interests include curricular development that can benefit heterogeneous learner populations in the same classroom. 

Sean Edwards (he/him) is an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a degree in radio-television-film. He works as the Communications Specialist for the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). Sean attended the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts with a specialization in Visual Arts. He is a current member of the Moody College of Communication Communication Council Media Committee and recently won an award for being the Most Active Committee Member across the board. Previously, he worked on the Teen Council for the Contemporary Art Museum Houston and most recently as an influencer marketing associate for DUMPS. Sean is committed to using his diverse experiences to help bridge the gap between communication, creativity, marketing, and film.