Name: Thomas Galstian

Degree: ‘16 M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction (Secondary Math Ed)

Current Employer: Curious Cardinals

What is the most important skill you’ve used in your current role that you gained in your time at UNLV?

What it boils down to is acknowledging the skill set that we have as educators, and then recognizing that no matter what we think, it will take community input and collaboration to reach a meaningful result.

How did UNLV help your career path since graduation?

I’m sure we might as well start singing Dr. Olson’s accolades now, but I’ll give a quick shout-out to Travis Olson. He was both my advisor and a professor for several of my classes, who I think embodied transferable skills; really positioning the class as student-oriented, practitioner-oriented. That I think really laid the foundation for how I approach my entire professional career.

What’s something people should know about you (but probably don’t)?

My first language is Russian. People might not immediately recognize that about me. I still maintain Russian. I speak it with my family regularly. It’s been a big part of my own upbringing and culture to recognize the immigrant path in America. That’s something that I’m really proud of.

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