Introducing Brittany Knight, Chapter Co-Chair, Detroit

Name - Brittany Knight

• Degree/graduating year - MEd - Higher Education, 2016

• Location - Kalamazoo, MI

• HAEd position - Detroit, Michigan Chapter Co-Chair

• Current job - Executive Director, The Joyce Ivy Foundation

• 3 fun facts - 1.) Lost my last baby tooth on a college visit to Duke; 2.) Moved seven times before starting high school; 3.) Majored in Mandarin Chinese

• Why did you join HAEd? I joined HAEd to find a local community of people who are committed to education who I could collaborate with and learn from.

• What do you hope to achieve through HAEd? I hope to bring together individuals who are passionate about education so that together we can increase our collective impact!

• How did you get involved in education? I serendipitously found my way to a career in higher education. After college, my first job was working at a boutique investment bank in Burlington, VT. It was not at all for me and after about one year, I started the hunt for a new job. While I was still working at the investment bank, I began to volunteer with my alma mater, Middlebury College, by interviewing prospective high school students. I LOVED being able to connect with students, learn about their passions, and help to guide them in their post-high school thinking. Knowing that I was local in Vermont, the volunteer coordinator at the Middlebury Admissions Office reached out to let me know that there was an opening in the office. It was around that same time that I had recently quit my job at the investment bank. The timing could not have been more perfect and I started as an Admissions Counselor within two weeks. The rest is history!

• What is something that inspires you? In my current role, I work closely with high school women who are pursuing pre college summer learning opportunities. These young women inspire me every day with their curiosity, drive, intellect, and courage! They are the next generation of female leadership.

• What is the most memorable experience you remember from your time at Harvard? I absolutely loved connecting with my cohort at Harvard, both in and outside of the classroom. Many of them are my closest friends and I know I can always pick up the phone to chat about anything...education or anything else!

• What advice do you have for other Harvard alumni? Keep doing the great work you're doing! The opportunity to attend a place like Harvard is a privilege and my hope is that we can all use this privilege to make the world around us a little better.

Introducing William Kwok, Chapter Co-Chair, NYC

Full name:

William Kwok 

Degree/Graduating Year:

DCE ALM '07

Location:

New York, NY

Position on HAEd: 

HAEd New York Co-Chair

Current role or job: 

President of Martial Arts Education Society;

Headmaster of Gotham Martial Arts School

3 Fun Facts:

• My only sibling is 14 years younger than I am.

• Since I don’t drink alcohol, my “happy hours” include academic studies, martial arts teaching, and my family time.

• I photograph myself in the same martial arts kicking pose at different world landmarks.

Why did you join HAEd?

I have always had a passion for education. My father was a professor of physical education so I spent most of my childhood on a college campus. In recent years, I started a non-profit organization called Martial Arts Education Society with the mission of “bringing self-discipline and hope back to our communities.” I also began taking graduate courses in education and designed a martial arts-inspired social-emotional learning (SEL) program named Martial Mind for elementary schools. Since I do not have prior experience working in K-12 education, HAEd provides a great channel for me to meet and work with alumni who also have a passion for improving education. Being part of the HAEd team has been an enjoyable learning experience.

What do you hope to achieve through HAEd?

Today, our children live in a fast-paced, accessible world due to the wonders of modern technology and the influence of social media. Many tend to focus heavily on a fast-track lifestyle and instant gratification. I hope the elite group of educators at HAEd will act as a conduit to improve and expand Martial Mind. As a positive outcome of this program, we hope that children will become more focused, self-disciplined, and respectful of others. With a sound mind and healthy body, children will have better social-emotional skills to navigate this complicated world.

How did you get involved in education?

My first official position as an educator was to serve as an adjunct professor in business studies. This experience motivated me to become a professional martial arts educator in 2007. However, my passion for education stemmed from Sir Ken Robinson’s insightful TED talks and books in the last few years. I find his background as an arts educator quite interesting. As Sir Robinson depicts in his book Creative Schools, art education and physical education have been overlooked and have a lower status in mainstream academia. As a martial arts educator and the son of a physical education professor, I hope to learn more about the educational system and contribute to the system in a meaningful way. Sir Robinson’s work has motivated me to pursue graduate studies in education and evolve martial arts education. It is proven that martial arts education can benefit both children and adults in many different ways including critical thinking, perseverance, and physical health. It could be an added value to the balanced curriculum Sir Robinson presented in Creative Schools. 

What is something that inspires you?

Teaching is the highest form of learning! The growth of my students enriches my life. Their improvement, physically and mentally, inspires me to become a better educator. Their curiosity always challenges me and makes me reflect and refine my own practice. As a mentor, I delight in witnessing the evolution of children and young adults as they become more responsible and respectful members of their communities. Their hard work, discipline, and confidence will serve as an example to others.

What is the most memorable experience you remember from your time at Harvard?

My research experience with my thesis director, the late Professor Philip Kuhn, was the hallmark of my time at Harvard. His unflagging enthusiasm, bountiful insights, and continuous encouragement made this process a cherished experience. His mentorship enabled me to cultivate a “black belt” attitude towards my research. He set me on a path of what it means to be a scholar. I will always remember Professor Kuhn as a man of generosity, courtesy, and integrity.

What advice do you have for other Harvard alumni? 

Be bold, be innovative, be persistent, and flexible! Don’t be afraid of criticism. This simple formula has served me well in my life and that of my students. Behind all success, there is an incredible amount of hard work, perseverance, and belief in the goals that we set. Harvard is one big intellectual ecosystem. We are always here to support one another and serve as a beacon of innovation to the educational community.

Introducing Rana Arshed Hafiz, Chapter Co-Chair, NYC

We are profiling new members of the HAEd team, including three new co-chairs of our New York City chapter. Stay tuned for more introductions. If you would like to join the leadership team, please see open positions here.

Name: Rana Arshed Hafiz

• Degree/graduating year: Ed.M School Leadership- 2013

• Location: CT/ NY

• HAEd position: NY co-chair

• Current job: Chair Middle School Mathematics, City School District of New Rochelle

• 3 fun facts: Have recently launched my own podcast, learned to knit and taken up a job in NY

• Why did you join HAEd?: To collaborate with other alums for change in our secondary schools

• What do you hope to achieve through HAEd?: Connect research and practice to bring innovation in secondary schools

• How did you get involved in education?: Have always been involved in education- both my parents were engaged in education and health services for minorities

• What is something that inspires you?: Knowing that a group of like minded people can bring about large scale change with persistence

• What is the most memorable experience you remember from your time at Harvard?: Connecting with diverse thinkers

• What advice do you have for other Harvard alumni?: It is what you do with your education that matters most.