Brown University Department of Education

10/28/2026

Student Spotlight: Monica Colchado UEP'27 🌟

"I became passionate about diving deeper into the way systems function in relation to resource allocation, exclusion, and social capital."

Meet Monica, a Master’s in Urban Education Policy student and one of our student ambassadors for the 2026-27 cohort.

From studying critical theory and multilingual education at Wellesley College to working in Boston Public Schools, her journey led her to Brown’s UEP program. Driven by Brown’s tight-knit cohort model and focus on urban communities, she is spending her 9-month internship at Progresso Latino in Central Falls, where she works alongside residents, youth, and staff to translate research into accessible community action.

Tomorrow, Monica will be answering questions about the UEP program on our Instagram stories. Be sure to tune in! 📲

Meet Monica, a UEP student and one of our student ambassadors for the 2026-2027 academic year.

10/20/2026

We are excited to introduce our newest student ambassadors representing the Combined Baccalaureate/Master of Arts in Teaching (Bacc/MAT) program, Kaitlin Dang and Huyen Le.

Through this pathway, Brown University students can take up to two MAT courses during senior year, reducing graduate course load and tuition; get early advising from MAT faculty and access opportunities to build teaching experience; and transition into our one-year MAT program, which blends intensive coursework, hands-on teaching, and personalized coaching. Brown students can apply by May 1 of their junior year.

These ambassadors are here to share their experiences with prospective Bacc/MAT students. Brown students curious about the program should reach out to them anytime with questions or just to chat.

Get to know the students representing our Combined Baccalaureate/Master of Arts in Teaching program.

10/05/2026

"The cohort is a perfect mix of students coming straight from undergrad, returning Brown students, and career changers... everyone shares the same love for teaching." 🍎✨

Meet MAT Student Ambassador Julia Maguire!

From student teaching at Skidmore College to serving as a Teaching Fellow at Breakthrough Greater Boston, Julia’s journey led her to Brown's 1-Year Master of Arts in Teaching program to pursue secondary English education.

Now in Providence, Julia is student-teaching while exploring everything from the Hope Street Farmers Market to local Rhode Island beaches.

📲 Questions about the student experience, student teaching, or living in Providence? Julia will be taking over our Instagram Stories TOMORROW to answer all your questions live!

Read her full spotlight article here:

Meet Julia, a MAT in the English cohort and one of our student ambassadors for the 2026-2027 academic year.

10/02/2026

Alum Spotlight: Rachael Thrash MAT'02

"Transformative learning must begin with the individual, propelled by a challenge juicy enough to require risk, support, and growth."

We love seeing where our Master of Arts in Teaching alumni lead their careers! Today, we are spotlighting Rachael Thrash, Senior Director of Education & Innovation at Big Bad Boo Studios and author of Let the Learners Lead: Empowering Student Voice to Co-Create School Culture.

From international schools in Warsaw and Helsinki to designing global, human-centered educational content, Rachael has spent her career putting student voice and agency at the center of learning.

A few highlights from our Q&A with Rachael:

💡 On Brown’s Impact: "The most valuable lesson I took from the MAT program is that the learner’s experience is far more significant than the teacher’s objectives... The program will challenge you to unpack your assumptions about learning, success, and what school is meant to be."

🎭 On Classroom Innovation: "My participation in the Arts Literacy Project at Brown set an incredibly high bar for my teaching... Those opportunities to trust learners to do something slightly audacious have led to some of the most memorable moments in my career."

🤖 On the Future of Education & AI: "AI can reproduce patterns and knowledge, but it cannot replicate the uniqueness of a human learner. That makes it more essential than ever that education emphasizes human-centered skills."

Read her full alumni spotlight and learn more about her book, Let the Learners Lead. Rachael will be visiting Brown later this month to discuss her book; visit our Events Page for more information.

Rachael reflects on her time in the MAT program and her career path since graduating. She will visit Brown on October 27 to discuss her book, Let the Learners Lead: Empowering Student Voice to Co-Create School Culture.

09/24/2026

We are excited to introduce our newest student ambassadors representing the Master of Arts in Teaching and Master's in Urban Education Policy programs for 2026-27!

Chosen for their leadership and passion for our community, these ambassadors are here to offer prospective students a candid, firsthand look at life in our two graduate programs. Whether you have questions about course workloads, internships or residencies, or living in Providence, they are ready to help you navigate your journey.

Learn more about our ambassadors and how to get in touch:

Get to know the students representing our MAT and UEP programs.

09/22/2026

Yesterday students in Professor Katie Rieser's "Education Inequality and Community Assets: Contexts and Change" course toured several organizations around Providence: Watershed Council, Refugee Dream Center, and DownCity Design. They also visited some locally-owned shops and restaurants. 🌆

09/09/2026

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Lindsay Page as she steps into her new role as Chair of Brown's Department of Education, succeeding Dr. Tracy Steffes after eight years of dedicated leadership.

Dr. Page has served as a Brown faculty member since 2021 and was recently promoted to Annenberg Professor of Education Policy. She is eager to pass along the strong support she received during her first five years at Brown to our entire community of faculty, staff, and students.

A few highlights from her Q&A:
🏫 She is excited to see our Master of Arts in Teaching and Master's in Urban Education Policy programs continue to thrive.
🤖 She shares her candid perspective on balancing generative AI in higher education with the messy, non-linear work of deep learning.
🏔️ When she's not outdoors hiking Mount Washington or cooking at home, she maintains an open-door policy.

🔗 Get to know Chair Lindsay Page in the full Q&A:

Dr. Page discusses her new role as Department Chair, the colleagues who shaped her first five years at Brown, and the impact of generative AI on teaching and learning.

09/04/2026

Applications are open for 2027–28!

Advance your career in education with a master’s degree from Brown University:

🍎 Master of Arts in Teaching
📊 Master’s in Urban Education Policy

Join an upcoming info session to explore program details, career outcomes, and scholarship options.

✉️ Questions? Contact us at [email protected]
🔗 Register & Apply:

We prepare leaders in education who are committed to driving equity, innovation, and meaningful change in urban schools and systems.

08/26/2026

Two new Brown Summer High School (BSHS) after-school programs gave local high schoolers room to explore creative expression outside the traditional classroom this year. Digital Storytelling and Creative Writing, both funded by a grant from the Brown Arts Institute, let students spend their afternoons writing, filming and building projects entirely their own.

The grant ultimately allowed BSHS students creative freedom and access to new mediums by giving them the tools and confidence to tell their stories. In addition to these programs, the grant funded other resources for BSHS students such as materials for the science and English courses and special guest speakers.

Read more:

A grant from the Brown Arts Institute funded two new after-school offerings this summer, giving local high schoolers space to write, create and tell their own stories.

08/25/2026

Excited to share an upcoming panel hosted by the Cogut Institute for the Humanities!

On September 11, Professor Mahasan Chaney will join a distinguished panel of scholars, including specialists in history, religious studies, and the Dean of the College, for "Humanists on Education."

Education is the thread that connects us all at Brown. This event offers a unique look at how different fields define, challenge, and practice education to fuel discovery and purpose.

🗓 Friday, September 11 @ 1:00 PM ET

Education is what brings us all together at Brown, students and faculty alike. It’s our mission. It fills us with energy. It fuels our curiosity,...