Erica Vargas

Pronouns: she/her
Year: Senior
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Berwyn, IL

Why is the mission of the Gannon Scholars important to you?

The mission of the Gannon Scholars is important to me because it is the beginning. Here, we are shaped to be leaders in a society that is white- and male-dominated. We learn from all different grade levels of women leaders. We get to hear about each other’s life experiences and about how we can advocate for one another. Overall, it is important to me because it the beginning of my journey in creating equity.

What are you interested in researching?

I am interested in researching elementary education in low-income versus high-income communities. Ever since I was a child, I was always passionate about my education, and I noticed that there is little cultural representation in how students are taught. I want to see if teachers’ pedagogy in different communities impacts a student’s academic performance.