Mary Franitza, Graduate Student Association in Education President

In this episode, we talk with Mary Franitza, a grad student at the Gevirtz School about her work, which includes supporting other graduate students in education as the President of the Graduate Student Association in Education (GSAE), where she advocates for stronger connections between cohorts and greater transparency from the university.

Mary Franitza is a third year M.A/Ph.D. student under the advisement of Professor Jin Sook Lee. Her research focuses on mentorship, social and linguistic justice education, and informal learning spaces such as summer camps and after school programs. Before attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, Mary worked in early childhood education and as a camp professional where she developed leadership programs and curriculum. She continues to consult with summer camps looking to implement diversity and equity training and hate/bias intervention tactics. Currently, Mary is the student coordinator for School Kids Investigating Language in Life and Society Program (SKILLS), co-coordinates GSAE's Intercohort Mentorship Program, and serves as the President for the Graduate Student Association in Education.

Bits of Music You May Notice: Yo La Tengo, "Georgia Vs. Yo La Tengo," Wim Mertens, "Close Cover" Bill Nelson, "Word for Word."

This episode first aired on KCSB-FM 91.9 on April 28, 2022.