Faculty Spotlight - Melissa Mulieri
Melissa Mulieri is the director of Loyola University Maryland’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Born in Annapolis, Md., she grew up in Baltimore County and has lived in
Baltimore City for the past 15 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and
a minor in Elementary Education from McDaniel College and a Master of Arts in School
Administration and Supervision from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Before coming to Loyola, Melissa taught elementary school for 12 years in Harford County. During that time, she developed an interest for working with new and veteran teachers through a variety of professional development formats. She also served on the school leadership team where she supported administration and faculty in the daily operations of the school.
Why did you choose to work at Loyola?
During my time in the classroom, I enjoyed collaborating with other teachers and sharing ideas. It was during this time that I got experience mentoring teacher candidates and providing professional development to teachers already in the field. Living in the area, I was aware of Loyola’s reputation for preparing quality educators and I thought the School of Education would be a good place for me to expand my role in teacher preparation.
I started working at Loyola in 2015 as clinical faculty, supervising teacher candidates who are interning in the professional development schools. I also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the teacher education department.
What are you most excited about in your new role?
The best part of my role is connecting with teacher candidates and professionals in the field. I am excited that my new role will allow me to continue doing this, while creating more opportunities to impact change within the teacher education department, the profession, and the communities we serve.
What makes Loyola’s MAT program different?
Loyola and the School of Education are committed to cura personalis, caring for the whole person. Our small class sizes allow faculty and students to build connections that support our Jesuit philosophy and prepare educators to value diversity and to be an advocate for all students.
What are your future goals and aspirations for the MAT program?
The MAT program is continually evaluating our practices to ensure we are meeting the needs of our candidates, state accreditation requirements, and the realities facing educators in the field. I want to continue this tradition of reflection and action in order to create more pathways for candidates to enter the field. Likewise, I want to further support teacher development by helping to facilitate other experiences that support and encourage dialogue and action on the societal and educational pressures our communities are experiencing.
What advice would you give to an aspiring educator?
My advice to future educators is to be prepared and open. Educators are uniquely positioned to make an impact on the lives and communities in which they serve and if you put in the work to prepare for your students and remain open to new ideas, you will be best positioned to impact change in the lives of your students and your community.