Commitment to Community

The Intellectual Contribution Award recognizes graduating Ed.M. students (one from each master’s degree program) whose dedication to scholarship enhanced HGSE’s academic community and positively affected fellow students. All recipients were nominated by their classmates based on who inspired them, helped them gain a different perspective on education's challenges, and contributed to shared learning and intellectual growth, both inside and outside of the classroom. Each program's faculty directors, in consultation with other faculty and staff, selected the final honorees for their program based on the nominations and on demonstrated academic success.

Anthony Otadoy Garciano and Srishti Gulati will be honored with the Intellectual Contribution Award for the Education Policy and Analysis (EPA) Program during HGSE Convocation exercises on May 22. Below, our faculty members comment on the selections, and we asked the winners about their time at HGSE, their future goals, and their approach to impacting the field of education.

Anthony Otadoy Garciano, Ed.M.'24

"During his time in the Education Policy and Analysis program, Anthony Garciano exemplified a commitment to socially engaged scholarship. He consistently asked incisive questions that provided thoughtful insights and alternative perspectives, benefiting the entire cohort. Anthony brought a spirit of kindness and care to all of his work. Peers described Anthony as someone who catalyzed their intellectual growth and was always generous with his time, readily stopping whatever he was doing to help those around him gain a deeper understanding. Anthony embodied the qualities of a servant leader in all he did at HGSE, always seeking to advance opportunities for debate and critical inquiry among his peers. Anthony's presence enriched the EPA program, and our faculty concur that he is deserving of this recognition." — The EPA Faculty Team

What is something that you learned this year that you will take with you throughout your career in education? Believing in someone can go a long way and, by no small measure, change lives. As teachers, we freely supply our heart and soul to our kids, believing they can learn and do good for themselves, their families, and their communities. But sometimes, we forget to do the same for ourselves. At least I did. I learned to trust my intentions and intuition again this year thanks to friends and professors who reminded me that I belong in this work.  

What surprised you about your time at HGSE? Statistics is fun! Special shout-out to Joe McIntyre, Zach Himmelsbach, and Carrie Conaway for making data fun.  

Is there any professor or class that significantly shaped your experience? Professor Fernando Reimers taught me that we need fierce optimism to survive in this work. At the same time, Professors Emiliana Vegas and Meira Levinson showed me that we must balance this optimism with rigor and ethics. Professor Julie Reuben demonstrated that there is power and joy in piecing the past together, while Lecturer Bruno della Chiesa helped me think in abundance. And Lecturer Jaein Lee showed me that good teaching goes beyond what is taught; it is also how you make others feel.  

What are your post-HGSE plans? Where are you hoping to make the most impact?  I will teach third grade right after graduation. I also want to work in the Philippines and learn more. Whatever I do, I want to make my parents, Noeme and Antonio Garciano, proud. Gihigugma ko ikaw, gihigugma tika, mahal na mahal kita.

Srishti Gulati, Ed.M.'24

"Over the past year, Srishti Gulati has distinguished herself as an intellectual leader in the Education Policy and Analysis Program and in the wider HGSE community. In particular, Srishti was critical in deepening her peers' understanding of quantitative material, the EPA 101 curriculum, and how to identify effective and equitable methods for capturing and analyzing data. Fellow students praised her ability to inspire discussions that balance rigor and kindness, exemplifying the best of the EPA Program. One of Srishti's peers shared that through her knowledge and patience, she helped heal their childhood insecurities about math and offered cultural perspectives that deepened their understanding of education beyond a solely American context. Additionally, Srishti has gone above and beyond to share her expertise and experiences by presenting at the Alumni of Color Conference ('Data Monitoring in Developing Countries: Navigating Unseen Power'), participating in storytelling through Double Take, and contributing her scholarship within the Identity, Power, and Justice in Education Concentration. On behalf of the EPA faculty, Srishti, congratulations on your well-deserved receipt of this award." — The EPA Faculty Team

What brought you to HGSE and what was your goal in coming here? I came to HGSE at a point in my career where I was looking for answers to specific problems I had encountered in my work, as well as for inspiration. I had been working as an applied researcher for a while and I was keen to deepen my research skills towards these problems. I've always enjoyed being in a classroom and learning new things, I was very excited to be a student again!

What is something that you learned this year that you will take with you throughout your career in education? There are so many things I have learned this year that I will take with me through life. The themes that are most salient to me right now are community and shared purpose. My circle of friends and the community that we created in the Identity, Power and Justice in Education Concentration have been such a big source of support this year. Beyond just support, these communities rooted in purpose have given me the courage and the safe spaces to explore new ideas in education. I hope to carry forward this community and continue to build similar ones through my career!  

How did your HGSE experience shape your work or your goals? My time at HGSE has helped me build more conviction in my own ideas and has helped me integrate what I am learning into my experiences from my work. I will continue to work towards enabling holistic learning for children. I know so much more now, and I have so many amazing peers to learn and work with on this journey!  

Is there any professor or class that significantly shaped your experience? My journey at HGSE would not have been the same without Senior Lecturer Gretchen Brion-Meisels. Her yearlong course on Researching In Community has deeply challenged and evolved my ideas and practice of research. She has been an invaluable mentor and I have learnt so much about practicing love and facilitating loving spaces from her!