Hemang Srikishan

What made you decide to pursue teaching?

After I graduated from college with a degree in psychology, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. So in an effort to get a stronger cultural connection to my roots and do service, I joined Indicorps, a PeaceCorps-like organization focused in India. A lot of the work I did there involved education projects working with children of migratory laborers, and I realized that is what I really loved to do.

Why did you choose UChicago UTEP?

I did a lot of research and UTEP had the exact focus I was looking for—a lot of preparation to serve a very specific community. Service is a really big part of what I'm in teaching for. It gives me a sense of value each day to know that the work I am doing is impacting the student that is in front of me.

What have you carried from UTEP throughout your career?

I learned so many things in the program and through my years as an intern teacher during my placements, both of which were with UTEP grads, that have come directly into play in my teaching career. And now I've been given the chance to give back to that program by helping a current UTEP student prepare, so it has kind of come full circle. UTEP gave me the vocabulary to articulate my experiences in education and share that knowledge with others.