Noyce Scholar Profile
Zikiar Alvin
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
American University
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I received a B.S. in Biology from Savannah State University and a PhD in Physiology from Howard University in Washington, DC.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching has always given me a feeling of fulfillment. I have always thought that science is not only interesting but also fun and exciting. Passing on my passion for science and having an opportunity to help a student who may be struggling–not because of his or her inadequacies but because he or she is not receiving the appropriate training and motivation–will bring me further satisfaction. Because many urban students never get the opportunity to meet or even talk to minority scientists, they don’t realize that science is a career option.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My commitment to teaching urban youth and becoming a master teacher is deeply personal. I was raised in a poor neighborhood within an urban community. I experienced the lack of positive, male role models and limited resources that often plague communities like the one in which I grew up. Not seeing anyone who looked like me achieve the dreams that I had for myself made me skeptical about my aptitude and abilities. It wasn’t until my undergraduate years, when one of my professors took interest in my academic progress and encouraged me to achieve, that I started to realize and work towards my future scientific career.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
This outstanding program provides professional training while establishing relationships with experienced pedagogists who demonstrate high ethical standards.
