HGSE Admissions Blog

Araceli Arizpe (she/her)

I was working as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Middlebury College (my alma mater) in Vermont. Beyond reading applications, my project areas focused on access and inclusivity initiatives in our admissions process, as well as social media and communications! 

What brought you to HGSE?

I am passionate about creating college access opportunities and demystifying the application process and saw HGSE as an opportunity to learn about the strengths and challenges of our higher education landscape. I also hope to learn more about adolescent development and ways to support students as they are navigating their identity development and figuring out their passions! 

If you know me, you know…

I love all things music and going to concerts! I’m also an amateur crafter and I love to crochet, collage, and bead (my last project was creating a beaded felt vegetable garland 😊).

Michael Bryann Gaetos (he/him)

Program and Concentration: Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (ELOE) with a concentration in Higher Education 
Hometown: Vallejo, CA (San Francisco Bay Area)
GA Role: Events & Partnerships

What were you doing before HGSE?

Before HGSE, I served as an assistant director with UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where I was part of the diversity & outreach team. I also had the privilege of being the regional manager for Southern California’s Orange County and Hawai’i, engaging with a diverse range of students and communities! 

What brought you to HGSE?

As an immigrant, queer person of color, transfer student, and the first in my family to pursue higher education here, I’ve experienced firsthand the transformative power of education. My college journey has shaped my passion for ensuring that historically excluded communities have equitable access to higher education, and I know my time at HGSE will offer the perfect environment to deepen my knowledge towards a more inclusive educational system. 

If you know me, you know…

I love traveling and I’m a huge aviation enthusiast! I’ve managed to travel to five countries in five days, and you can talk to me endlessly about everything airports, airplanes, and airlines.

Claire Patterson (she/her)

Program: Education Policy & Analysis
Hometown: Redwood City, California
GA Role: Ambassadors Program

What were you doing before HGSE?

For the last eight years I’ve been working in Television in Los Angeles, most recently in Casting at Warner Bros. on delightful shows like Abbott Elementary and Ted Lasso! I also collaborated on DEI pipeline initiatives to increase access and support for actors from underserved and underrepresented communities.  

What brought you to HGSE?

Although I grew up around higher ed (my parents are university professors), I genuinely never imagined working in education … So being here at HGSE represents a big life/career pivot. Even so, it’s already been gratifying to have the opportunity to imagine where in education I might best “fit” to make an impact. I’m enjoying reflecting on how my own educational experiences, from attending an all-girls secondary school to being an undergraduate transfer student, have profoundly shaped me.  

If you know me, you know…

I “skim watch” all my TV shows to ensure I have time to consume everything (my former television coworkers were horrified by this). Unrelated, but equally important: I despise running, so if you see me sprinting somewhere it’s likely towards food.  

Anna Kurian (she/her)

Program: Education Policy & Analysis
Hometown: Kerala, India
GA Role: Data and Operations

What were you doing before HGSE?

I was a student and fresh graduate of Northwestern University in Qatar/Evanston! That’s where I got my first real experience working in an admissions office and spent a lot of time diving deep into research on educational policy and pedagogy. Beyond that, I started tutoring as a side hustle, but quickly realized how much I love working with students—helping them find resources and solutions. It made me think that maybe academia was always where I was meant to be! 

What brought you to HGSE?

I absolutely love education and everything about academia! Back in undergrad, I spent a lot of time researching education and educational policies with some truly amazing professors across institutions, and they really inspired me. On the side, I ran a little tutoring gig and saw firsthand the impact one person can make. All of this cemented for me that education and public policy is where I belong and what I want to explore. Plus, side note—I love the small-town charm of Cambridge (it always feels like an episode straight out of Gilmore Girls).

If you know me, you know…

Although I was born in India, I’ve barely lived there—I spent most of my life in Dallas, Texas (which I still consider home). I always scrape the frosting off store-bought cupcakes (I know, it sounds totally diabolical to some!). I don’t drink coffee or tea—I’m a water girl through and through. I love to write (a lot), sing, cook, and bake! If I wasn’t in ed policy, I’d be a chef in a heartbeat and would love to work for the Food Network and have my own cooking show—although I’m still deciding what I’ll name it! 

Connolly Grady (he/any)

Program: Teaching and Teacher Leadership Internship Model, Mathematics Content Area
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
GA Role: Financial Aid

What were you doing before HGSE?

Before coming to HGSE, I worked as the Center Assistant at a Kumon learning center in Seattle. There, I had a wide range of responsibilities, including student instruction, prepping and planning content, and working with parents and students on enrollment.

What brought you to HGSE?

Being in the Teaching and Teacher Leadership (TTL) program, I was drawn to HGSE due to my love for education and my desire to learn as much as I can to be the best possible educator I can be, and to make as large of an impact as possible as an educator. Beyond academics, throughout my visits and interactions with HGSE staff and students I felt more welcome and encouraged than I have anywhere else, and I have truly felt that attitude reflected in my time here so far.

If you know me, you know…

I’m a musician – I played drums for four years in the University of Washington’s Husky Marching Band (go Dawgs!), and I’m a big movie nerd.