Nichole Diaz
Certification Pathway: Early Entry Master of Arts in Teaching
Area of interest: High School Biology
I have always been enthusiastic about science from a young age. I was raised in Shelbyville KY, and my parents both have fantastic careers in the STEM field. I went to Shelby County Public Schools from K-12, and my passion for science flew from there. I have had amazing teachers and I have always wanted to be as passionate as they were at their job. When I came to Bellarmine, I knew that I wanted to become a scientist and maybe even an educator. During the summer of my sophomore year, I worked as an Educator at the Kentucky Science Center and volunteered as an English tutor for the Backside Learning Center. Working for the Kentucky Science Center, I got to experience different levels of teaching. From toddlers to adults, getting excited over liquid Nitrogen demonstrations or just discussing how to say experiment in English became fulfilling to me. In the summer of my Junior year, I was got an internship through the Bellarmine University’s Noyce Knights Scholars Program where I continued working with the Kentucky Science Center with their summer Science Camp. These hands-on and practical experiences have shaped how I view teaching, from being interested in the idea to now being one hundred percent all in for it to be my lifelong career.
Divya Joseph
Certification Pathway: Early Entry Master of Arts in Teaching
Area of interest: High School Biology
Hello! My name is Divya Joseph. I am originally from India, but was born in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). I moved to Louisville when I was 3 year’s old and haven’t moved since! I have been interested in teaching ever since I started watching my father teach Physics as a teacher in high school and as a professor in college. I fell in love with the kindness and understanding he showed to his students and I would like to be a role model for students at their early ages. I have been on the Dean’s list for a couple semesters. I serve as a Senior Rep. in SGA; I am a Bellarmine Society Member, Service Event Coordinator for AAASU, and has been the captain of the Multicultural Dance Group that I started 4 years ago at Bellarmine. I have worked at the Tutoring Venter for about 3 years and as a Knights of Color Mentor for the past 4 years. I have done an internship in STEM Education through Bellarmine’s Noyce Knights Scholars Program at the Kentucky Science Center in summer 2023.
Sandra Bojić
Certification Pathway: Master of Arts in Teaching
Area of interest: High School Biology
I immigrated to the US from Bosnia and Herzegovina with my parents and brother in 1998. I grew up in the greater Nashville area but have called Kentucky my sweet and dear home since 2020. Currently, I’m an Environmental Biologist for the state of Kentucky doing biomonitoring of the state’s streams, rivers, and lakes. Before this, I spent time working as a naturalist, where I lead environmental education programs, and as a college Biology lab instructor, where I first felt the joys (and challenges) of immersive science teaching. I’m deeply passionate about the environment and science education, and I believe whole-heartedly in culturally responsive teaching; I look forward to learning practices that best serve all students in JCPS and beyond.
Jesse Davis
Certification Pathway: Master of Arts in Teaching
Area of interest: Middle School Math
My name is Jesse Davis, I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), but raised in Rwanda and Uganda. I came to the US many years ago as a refugee, and I am now a US citizen. I earned a Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. I started teaching when I was 25, now I am 36 years old. I have been teaching for 11 years. Teaching for me is a gift, because I like teaching and love kids as well. Let me share with you how this educational call started when I was 21 years old, living in Kampala, Uganda as a refugee. Most refugee kids do not know how to speak English, so many young people failed their classes and decided to stay home. So, after seeing that, I decided to help those kids by teaching them Mathematics, Science, and English. Since I have helped many kids, their parents gave me jobs to teach their children after school. When I came to the US, I was a teaching Assistant at the Syracuse City School District. I saw that a class of 3rd-grade students struggled to understand a topic in Math for three months. A classroom teacher asked me to help the students explain the topic to her classroom. After explaining the subject matter, the class understood it in one hour. I achieved that success quickly because I have a passion for developing the young generation's education and take it to the next level, so that they can achieve their educational goals and dreams and prepare for a better future.
Erica Knorpp
Certification Pathway: Master of Arts in Teaching
Area of interest: High School Biology and Middle School Science
As an undergraduate, I worked for Entomology Outreach at the University of Kentucky. In this position, I taught the public about insects through social media and in-person events. This position opened the doors for my internship with the Kentucky Forest Leadership Program, where I helped high school students identify and collect insects. Combined with my experience as a Teaching Assistant for General Entomology, this ignited my passion for teaching science. I graduated from UK in August, and I’m returning back home to Louisville for my MAT.
Stephen Lorenz
Certification Pathway: Master of Arts in Teaching
Area of interest: High School Physics
Before starting the MAT program my only teaching experience was volunteering to give a Gravity Well demonstration to Physics students at DuPont Manual High School and volunteering to teach Shaolin Do martial arts to kids. I completed my Bachelors in Physics in May 2022 and was thinking and praying for direction for my future, when Dr. Mahmood talked to me about the Noyce Knight's Scholars Program (NKSP), which would pay ME to become a STEM teacher. I believe that was GOD telling me that He wanted me to teach (something I knew I liked doing), so I applied, got in to the MAT program and NKSP, and have really enjoyed the program thus far! I believe I am where I am supposed to be.
Will Baxter
Certification Pathway: Secondary Education - Math
Area of interest: High School Mathematics
I'm Will Baxter. I'm from Louisville, KY, and have lived here my whole life. I've known I've wanted to be a teacher since my freshman year of high school. I've always enjoyed math, but my 6th and 7th grade math teacher really sparked my interest in the subject; she was a very effective teacher. My mom and uncle both work for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and my grandmother retired from JCPS after working in the VanHoose Center for some time. I'm a math tutor here at Bellarmine, which has given a lot of practice with teaching math to people. During my sophomore year of college, I received the John Van de Walle Scholarship, which is annually awarded to one junior and one senior who are studying math and enjoy teaching it to others. I hope to be an effective teacher for future generations!