ONIF Student Spotlight
School of Education
December 4, 2020
Name: Nikysha (Nikki) Gilliam
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degree Program: Ed.D. - Educational Leadership for Social Justice
Graduation Date: May 2021
Fellowship Award: Pulitzer Center 2020 Teacher Fellowship “Media, Misinformation, and the Pandemic”
What are your current or future career plans? I am currently a public school educator in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
What have you enjoyed most about the program? The program was really interesting. It put teachers in touch with journalists and reporters with an array of backgrounds and experience. The program challenged me to think about the type of news that is reported, and the stories that get told, and the stories that are under-reported. This Fellowship opened up a wealth of resources that I didn't know existed, and now I also have access to journalists that can speak to my classes!
What was the most challenging aspect of the program? There are weekly meetings that you must actively participate in, and during the pandemic with everything being virtual, additional screen time was sometimes draining.
What advice do you have for future applicants? If you are an educator looking for professional development opportunities, this Pulitzer Teacher Fellowship is definitely worth applying to! There is a wealth of support to help you reach the goals of the fellowship as well. Be prepared to design a unit of study and provide student work samples.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I'm always looking for learning opportunities, but I don't think that will surprise people who know me.
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You can read more about Nikki here.
How can engagement with under-reported global news stories support existing curricula, while also preparing students to engage curiously, critically, and empathetically with the world? As part of this paid, virtual fellowship, a small cohort of educators will explore this question in community with other passionate fellows, award-winning journalists, and the Pulitzer Center education team. For more information, visit https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/applications-open-pulitzer-center-teacher-fellowship or contact ONIF.