Luke DeGregori and Carissa Marsh are almost as passionate about science education as they are about each other. Before the couple marries this July, they鈥檙e focused on their final semester at the 麻豆影院 and time well spent student teaching.
The pair met in middle school and started dating in high school. Like their love story, their interest for science developed early. Luke, a physics major, and Carissa, a molecular, cellular and developmental biology major, came to CU 麻豆影院 with sights set on research post-graduation.
鈥淚 have always been really passionate about biology,鈥� said Carissa. 鈥淚 have wanted to be a researcher since 4th grade. I thought I wanted to study viruses and cancer research.鈥�
That was before, in their own words, they got bit by the 鈥渢eaching bug.鈥� First, it affected Luke. As a freshman, he took a student position as a for the physics of sound and music class. Learning Assistants, or LAs, are undergraduates who are supported by university faculty to help their fellow students learn. The experience deepened Luke鈥檚 interest in physics and teaching.
鈥淚 have always enjoyed the social aspect of science,鈥� he said. 鈥淧art of what I like is seeing people react to science.鈥�
Luke enjoyed being an LA so much that he returned for a second semester, and he encouraged Carissa to apply to the program too. Carissa had been applying for student positions in labs across campus, but she applied for a position as an LA as a 鈥渓ast resort,鈥� she said. Soon, Carissa was splitting her time between a lab position and as a Learning Assistant.
鈥淚 was supposed to spend 10 hours a week at each job, but I was spending closer to 15 to 20 hours as an LA,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryday I looked forward to being an LA. I figured out I just love education. I love when my passion for biology is infectious for another person. I love the intellectual challenge of having to think, 鈥榳hat will make this click for students.鈥欌��
Research shows the Learning Assistant Program indeed helps make learning 鈥渃lick鈥� for students enrolled in large classes with LA support and for the Learning Assistants as well. Administered by the School of Education, the LA program features a seminar course focused on content, practice, and pedagogy, and some of the LAs, like Luke and Carissa, choose to take subsequent education classes. The couple also took science education courses through the CU Teach Program, and they are on a path to earning their teacher licensure with support from , all through the CU 麻豆影院 School of Education. They also deepened their interest and experience as summer teaching assistants for , CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 K-12 science education outreach program.
This summer, however, they will be busy hosting their July wedding. The wedding鈥檚 theme aptly centers around science education with Erlenmeyer flasks for centerpieces, periodic table place settings, and a live chemical reaction in place of the unity candle. They say their mutual affinity for education has brought them closer together.
鈥淲e can always find ways to bring education into our conversations,鈥� Luke said.
鈥淲e have so much more to talk about,鈥� Carissa added. 鈥淓ducation has shaped our personalities because of the social justice piece, and it鈥檚 provided a solid foundation for our relationship.鈥�