Emily leads customer insights and strategy at Chicago Transit Authority, which entails delivering quality, affordable transit services that link jobs, people, and communities.

Q & A

What led you to apply to Teach For America?

I attended a campus event hosted by TFA in my senior year to learn more about the program. I was moved by the mission and spent much time reflecting on my education. At the time, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to pursue my major in photography as a career, and I was excited by the idea of gaining valuable leadership skills through teaching.

How was the corps a catalyst for personal transformation?

Being in the corps opened my eyes to inequality in our country, not just regarding education but in many other areas. It made me want to use the skills I learned to affect change. It’s hard to get things done without being able to build relationships with others, set a vision, and work towards your goals—all of which I learned from TFA.

What were some of the major lessons you learned during the corps?

Given the opportunity from day one to teach 30 students forces you to become a leader quickly. Also, I learned how to make observations, gather data, communicate effectively, and work through challenges.

How do you use the skills and beliefs you developed in the corps?

As a teacher, you have to be able to break down concepts into bite-size chunks. In conducting market research, you have to introduce new, often complicated concepts to people to gather meaningful feedback.