2026 Dean’s Merit Scholar Athena Marie Juarez
Introduction
Athena Marie Juarez has known she wanted to be a teacher since she was a child, long before she ever stepped into a college classroom. Growing up, she turned her bedroom into a learning space, teaching her younger siblings with a whiteboard and stuffed animals, guided by a natural love for learning and leadership. “I just always loved to learn, and I loved helping other people learn,” she says.
The Urban Elementary Education program prepared Juarez to teach in communities that reflect her own experiences. As a first‑generation college student, navigating higher education required determination and intention about finding a program that aligned with her identity and values. She was drawn to a curriculum that centers urban communities, local histories, and culturally-responsive teaching while allowing her to feel seen, heard, and authentic as both a student and a future educator.
Juarez’s commitment to education is reflected in her academic success. She maintained an outstanding academic record while commuting to campus, working part time throughout college, and contributing financially to her household. For her, academic excellence is not just about grades, but about growth. She values the opportunity to connect theory to practice and apply what she learns directly to her work with students and schools.
Her engagement extends beyond the classroom. Juarez has served as a student ambassador for the College of Education and participated in global learning experiences that broadened her perspective on teaching. She studied education in Brazil, examining how culture, language, and resources shape learning systems, and later participated in a study abroad program in Barcelona for first‑generation students. These experiences strengthened her leadership skills and deepened her understanding of how education operates across different contexts.
Justice is central to Juarez’s approach to teaching. She understands justice not as an abstract concept, but as something built through daily interactions with students: listening, teaching truthfully, and helping young people navigate systems that often overlook them.
Juarez credits much of her growth to supportive faculty mentors who created spaces of trust and high expectations throughout her time in the College of Education. She also points to her family as the foundation of her success, noting that their resilience, care, and belief in her made her journey possible.
Looking ahead, Juarez plans to continue her education and remain connected to the college that shaped her. Wherever her path leads, she carries with her a clear sense of purpose: to teach with integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to the students and communities she serves.