Erica Sausner
STEM Education Researcher, SUNY Research Foundation/Center for Learning and Teaching
I grew up in Western New York, as the youngest of 11 children. After earning my BA from SUNY New Paltz and working for a few years, I joined the US Peace Corps and served for two years in Panama. When I returned to the US I began my PhD path at Penn State and graduated with a dual-title degree in Educational Theory & Policy and Comparative & International Education. Through domestic and international work my research focuses on the relationships between educational policy and marginalized students. As a first-generation college student I was definitely out of my depth and comfort zone at Penn State. I hadn’t asked the right questions before applying or found a mentor to guide me. Despite the financial and emotional challenges of the grad school and entering the academic job market, I am proud that I lived my values throughout these processes. Now that I’m in a solid place, professionally, I’m excited to have more time and energy for what makes me feel most like myself: being nerdy, cooking, baking, yoga...and some new adventures that are still TBD!
