CUNY Writing Fellows- Eileen Baker

I was born in Germany and raised in the Bronx. I attended the Bronx High School of Science, where my interest in science began. I received an A.B. in Biology from Hunter College and an MSED Biology from Iona College in New Rochelle. I earned a Certificate in Solid Waste Management from Stony Brook University. Presently I am a sixth year PhD student at CUNY Graduate Center studying urban education. This is my second year as a CUNY Writing Fellow.

In my professional life I've worked as a public school science teacher in New York City, Pennsylvania and Long Island. These experiences led me to my graduate work. The PhD program in urban education works to connect conceptual perspectives with the realities of urban schools and school systems. My interest is in researching issues of curriculum and instruction in urban classrooms. My dissertation explores ways to improve the teaching and learning of science for all students in urban science classrooms. As a teacher-researcher in my classroom, I drew on a variety of qualitative and micro-analytic approaches to find ways to understand the challenges faced teaching students from different cultural backgrounds.

My particular interests in science include environmental studies and genetics. In addition, I have had experience and success in grant writing for science and educational research. I hope to advance writing pedagogy and support curricular renewal and change. I am looking forward to helping students improve their writing and value the opportunity to work with faculty and students to encourage writing across the curriculum.