Avery Castellani

Recent graduate highly accomplished in the fields of human development and small-town civic engagement through work on various research teams conducting needs-based assessments for the betterment of communities. Thorough, organized, open-minded, and dedicated to promoting equity and inclusion. Talented writer, critical thinker, and adaptable lifelong learner with experience handling sensitive topics tactfully and fostering program/project development.

• Mental Health First Aid Certified - (2023)
• CITI Program Certified in Human Subjects Research - (2022)

Graduate Awards:

• Department of Education Award Recipient, for promise of meaningful contributions to diversified pedagogy, cultural sensitivity, and global awareness within the field. (2024)
• Holstein Student Thesis Prize Award of Excellence Recipient, for "The Power of Prep: Exploring School Preparation and Follow-Up for Literacy Enrichment Events", the graduating thesis best demonstrating an appreciation for ethical public engagement in a chosen field of study. (2024)

Publications and Presentations:

• Castellani, A., Clarke-De Reza, S., Garcia, N. (February, 2024). “The Power of Prep: A Case Study Analyzing School Preparation and Follow Up for Literacy Enrichment Events.” Clearwater, FL: Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA).
• Bunten, B. A., Clarke-De Reza, S., Garcia, N., Castellani, A., & McHugh, R. (November, 2023). “A Positive Interconnection: Understanding Elementary Students’ Attitudes Towards Reading, Writing, and Drawing.” Columbus, OH: Conference for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
• “A Busload of Books: Exploring the Impacts of Literacy Enrichment Experiences on Underserved School Communities.” With Garcia, N., Bunten, B., Castellani, A., and McHugh, R. Literacy and Transformative Learning Experiences in Local and Global Contexts. Washington College Presidential Inauguration Academic Symposium, October 7, 2022.

Transform Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellow -  (2023-2024) 

• Chosen by Washington College President Mike Sosulski to act as the first ever civic engagement ambassador in the Transform Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellowship (TMACF) program. The fellowship consisted of high impact opportunities, such as the completion of a capstone and the presentation of said capstone to Maryland Senator Van Hollen's office in Washington, DC, to develop leadership skills and understanding of civic and community engagement. Other tasks included poster design and small-group leadership.

Busload of Books Research Team Member - (2022-2024) 

• Appointed to the research team primarily to run the blog associated with the project, and later acquired data entry and analysis skills. Other tasks included secretarial duties (such as notetaking), maintenance of the office SharePoint account and associated files, maintenance of the office Zotero account for literature associated with the research, delegating tasks among other team members, running civically-minded brainstorming sections, conducting interviews/focus groups, and sorting/packing physical copies of surveys to then ship across the country. The handling and protection of classified data in the form of survey responses was integral to this work.

Young Historians Conference Panelist - (2023) 

• Appointed as a panelist by the Chestertown Starr Center for the American Experience to share insight into the nuances of civically engaged work with high school students participating in the Young Historians Conference. Included discussion of topics like how to stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities, debates surrounding the preservation of history, and more.

Student Teaching Experience - (2022-2023): 

Henry Highland Garnet Elementary School, Chestertown, MD

• Assisted the lead teacher(s) in managing classrooms of 20+ students.
• Taught lessons in all relevant elementary subject areas at both 1st and 3rd grade levels.
• Handled all photocopying, printing, scanning, etc. needed for assigned classroom.