Georgetown College. Georgetown University.

Senior Michelle Hess is joining Teach for America as a special education teacher for elementary school students in Phoenix after graduation. (Photo: Roland Dimaya)

By LiAnna Davis

Senior Michelle Hess can isolate the “turning point” of her Georgetown experience: when she started working in Dr. Deborah Phillips’ lab.

“I was really excited because her Early Childhood Development class inspired me so much,” says Hess, a Psychology major. “I learned to love kids! With the help of Dr. Phillips, I have become a strong advocate for children. She is always smiling, willing to help, and she loves to talk about her work. I have never met anyone so enthusiastic about children and creating opportunities for them in the world. She has truly inspired me to be a child advocate and to be smart about how I do that.”

Hess, a recipient of five GUROP semester awards and a summer fellowship, has worked for the past two years on Dr. Phillips’ National Institutes of Health-funded study of quality childcare arrangements and children's temperaments. Hess and her colleagues have followed 315 research participants for the past four years of their lives, taking childcare histories (e.g., where the child is in care, for how many hours per week, how many children are in the class, etc.) from consenting parents and visiting the child in his or her childcare arrangement.

“I have been to many childcare centers throughout the D.C. metro area and to a few home day cares,” Hess explains. “I have absolutely loved visiting childcare centers throughout the D.C. area. When Dr. Phillips told me that I could be a data-collector, I was thrilled. Now I feel that I have contributed seriously to her study.”

Dr. Phillips’ emphasis on the practical ramifications of their research has also influenced Hess. She will be spending the next two years teaching elementary special education in Phoenix, Arizona, through Teach for America (TFA). She intends to use her understanding of early childhood education from Dr. Phillips’ research in her own classroom. And she intends to return to D.C. after her TFA commitment to integrate her experience with real-world applications in policy-making and teaching.

“Dr. Phillips helped me to realize that research can have a direct impact on policies and the lives of children in the real world,” says Hess. “She has motivated me to not only serve children through important academic research projects but also in a hands-on way. After observing in classrooms, I decided that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, especially underprivileged ones. I think it's important to get some hands-on experience in a field to really understand how you can make a difference. I want to create more of an equal-opportunity system where all children, of whatever race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, can have the option to receive a high-quality education. I now consider it my duty to advocate on behalf of children, and TFA allows me to do this by actively improving a low-income classroom in an area where I am most needed. ”

Hess’ love for children even extends to her extracurricular activities. She served on the board for Hoyathon, Georgetown’s 24-hour dance marathon, which raised $16,000 for the Georgetown University Hospital Pediatrics Department and Children's National Medical Center, a non-profit hospital in D.C. She works as a resident assistant and is active in the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) as the Chair of the Program Committee. Originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hess enjoys exploring D.C.’s restaurants, biking with her boyfriend, and going to concerts.

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