Designing the Next Big Thing in Education
When Anna Engelke (M.A. ’17) joined the inaugural cohort of the Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (MEITE) program in 2016, she wasn’t just pursing a new degree —she was seeking answers to her questions about technology and teaching. Today, in her role at Carolina’s BeAM makerspaces, Engelke’s work is a direct…
Megan Byers, a mechanical engineer-turned-educational technologist, never imagined her passion for teaching would lead her to develop InstructSTEM — an online professional development program and community of practice designed to equip STEM educators with evidence-based pedagogical strategies. Launched in early 2025, the platform aims to support high school and college-level STEM teaching and learning through…
After teaching for four years, Alexandra Lewis wanted to deepen her impact on students’ lives. After working as a teacher overseas and in a small school in Durham, Michael Berro was driven to learn how to scale up educational innovations to help more young people. They found their way to the UNC School of Education’s…
Omari Tait, a student in the UNC School of Education’s Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program, has built a career defined by service, leadership, and a deep commitment to helping people find their best path. As a first-generation college student and former Division III student-athlete, Tait said the full-time nature of…
As a teacher, Erika Murray knew how hard it was working in a classroom. As a student, she’s doing something about it. “Teachers need help!” Murray said. “Teaching is extremely rewarding, but it is also exhausting.” Murray, who taught for seven years in kindergarten, and first- and fifth-grade classrooms, is now a student in the…
STEM PLUG initially began with a children’s book. Published in 2022, “Diverse in STEM” introduced characters designed to help young learners see themselves in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For Rich Gilliam, founder of STEM PLUG and a 2026 graduate of the UNC School of Education’s Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program, the book…
AI has transformed—and continues to transform—how we live, work, and learn. Yet, as AI tools become increasingly powerful, the gap in AI literacy among Americans continues to grow. Following my HDFS scholarship in the School of Education, the MEITE program has given me the confidence to tackle difficult challenges, like the AI literacy gap. I…
