Q: What inspired you to pursue the specialization in early childhood policy? 

I did the UW College of Education Early Care and Education program when it first launched and by the time I was about to finish, I was thinking about what was next. At the time UW didn't have an early childhood master's program so I looked at so many online programs because, as a working single mom, full-time online programs were the easiest option. But every program I saw, I looked at the curriculum and thought, I already did that in my BA program. I can’t repeat that. Nothing met the quality of UW.

When I found out that UW was working on the early childhood program, I was so excited. The moment I heard, I said, Yes, I finally found it. At first, I thought I was unsure about it being focused on policy, but then I became intrigued as I started reading and asking questions to learn more about what it would look like.

I didn’t know much about policy, which was strange after dedicating more than 18 years to early childhood. I thought policy meant politicians. But I started asking myself: What kind of policies affect me as a single mom, an immigrant, a low-income family?  

That curiosity motivated me. I realized that when you fight for a program or say you’re an advocate for parents, you don’t really understand what you’re talking about until you get into the policy side. That’s what inspired me to pursue this degree.

Q: What aspects of the program (courses, instructors, or other experiences) stood out as especially impactful? 

Every single aspect of this journey has been impactful.

The courses are all built on top of each other. I got to see new options for how to handle things and understand why I do what I do, not just because I was told to. This program was different than what I have done before—more connected to current events, more open-minded, no right or wrong. I had to form my own opinions and standards.

The instructors were equally influential. Dr. Gail Joseph has always been my role model in education; she exposed us to so many different views. Dr. Ann Ishimaru inspired me that leadership is deeper than being a leader. My advisor, Dr. Soojin Park, helped me understand that as an immigrant, how I could protect my heritage. Each instructor inspired in their own way.

Dr. David Knight challenged me more than anyone when it came to early childhood finance. Most of his classes are about finance, but they focus on K–12. Every time he spoke, I thought, Why don’t we have that for early childhood? It pushed me to want to do more.

My cohort has also been incredible. When I felt alone or overwhelmed, they were there. We laughed, shared challenges, and inspired each other. I bonded with both the cohort groups, and it was amazing to see the impact those relationships made in my life.

Q: What has been most rewarding about focusing your graduate studies on early childhood policy? 

The most rewarding part is realizing everything is connected. You can’t fight for early childhood education without including families, community, politics, higher education, and students. Everyone’s knowledge contributes to the work, and it’s not a journey one person can take alone.

We weren't just meeting at UW. We connected with other universities across the country focusing on early childhood policy, including business organizations, policy makers, and students, discussing ways to improve early childhood policy at the federal, state, and local levels. That connecting piece showed me that the power isn’t just above—it’s within all of us to make change.

Q: How do you hope to make a difference in the early childhood landscape? 

I love what I do now, and I don’t plan to leave it. Moving forward, I want to help new students understand that early childhood education needs people to fight for it. Every profession has a seat at the table—except early childhood. That has to change.

For me, that means inspiring high schoolers exploring careers, supporting new educators, and helping students reflect on their work and goals. I can share my story and inspire them to show them what’s possible.

I will also speak out, write letters, and volunteer because we need to keep shining a light on the fact that early childhood education deserves a seat at the table.

Q: Reflect on what made it possible for you to pursue this program. What support helped you say yes? 

Most of all, I am grateful to God for the opportunity to be part of the first cohort accepted for this program. I know that not everyone who applied was accepted, yet I had the privilege of being part of the first group

I’m grateful for my children. They probably got tired of me going back to school, but it was fun this time because they were older. With four kids in college, it became a challenge—we all have to do this schoolwork together.

It would never have been possible without the Early Childhood Policy Fellowship. This degree was my dream, but I couldn’t afford it while also supporting my kids. The fellowship made it possible.

I’m also grateful to my workplace, supervisor, team, and whole College of Education. They had faith I could manage work and school. I joined UW in 2019, then COVID hit, and much of my time was remote. Despite that, people believed in me, and I didn’t want to disappoint them—or my kids, or the fellowship donors.

This year was especially hard, but I told myself, you can’t give up. You have to see this through. It really does take a community to raise someone up, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped raise me to achieve this.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

I’m grateful we walked this journey together. My only wish is that this program could be hybrid—some classes in person, some online. I cherish the flexibility and think that we need to share that with all prospective students.

The experiences, like traveling to DC, changed how we view early childhood. This program combines theory with practical experience, and I hope as it grows, we keep those qualities that make it unique and valuable.