Name: Rachel Ferreiro

Degree: ‘23 M.Ed. Educational Policy & Leadership 

Current Employer: Nevada Department of Education

How has your career evolved from when you first graduated to now? 

I spent many years in the classroom, teaching and growing within the school setting. I transitioned into a STEM strategist role at a STEAM school, which allowed me to work across the entire school. From there, I moved into a state-level role focused on elementary science education. It's been an unexpected but rewarding path. 

What's your most memorable UNLV moment?

One of my most meaningful UNLV experiences was the cohort model and the relationships I built with my classmates. We went through the program together, and those connections became incredibly strong. Even now, many of my cohort members are in leadership roles such as principals or assistant principals, and we still stay connected. 

What advice would you give students hoping to build a career in education? 

My biggest advice is to stay open and say yes to opportunities, even if they don’t look exactly like what you originally planned. Education is constantly changing, and there are so many different pathways you can take within the field. Don’t let yourself get boxed into one idea of what your career should look like.

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