Janel Munguia recognized by Teach for America for top-notch contribution
Janel Munguia, the English Department’s undergraduate counselor, has been recognized by Teach For America for helping to contribute more students to its program this past year than any other department in any other university in the world. 2017’s corps includes top alumni from more than 720 colleges. Only 15% of applicants get accepted into Teach For America. The fact that UCLA is the top contributor shows the tremendous impact UCLA students have on creating systemic change.
This past year was the most diverse corps in TFA’s history and includes individuals from a wide range of academic, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds. Chief amongst the country is UCLA’s English Department, providing the largest and most diverse pipelines of leaders, innovators, and optimists. At UCLA, 71% of TFA’s incoming corps members identify as people of color; 65% come from low-income backgrounds, and 40% are the first in their family to attend college. As corps members, Bruins are joining a powerful network shaping the political, economic, and social future of our country across a wide range of career sectors. Their decision to choose a career of impact is often rooted in their own college experiences, and TFA is proud to have so many Bruins committed to working toward educational equity.
Over the past 25 years, 941 Bruins have joined the corps and launched careers in education, medicine, politics, technology, law, and the arts. Bruins like UCLA ’02 alumnus Andrea Saenz, also from the English Department, attended Harvard Law School after completing the corps in Houston and is now the Supervising Attorney at Brooklyn Defender Services. Saenz noted that “Teach For America is a challenging experience that helped me choose my ultimate career path and means of advancing social justice.”
Janel’s hand in this success has been far-reaching, ranging from her countless meetings with students, organization of workshops, and advising undergraduates on how to make the most of their future. This September will mark Janel’s 25th year with the department, and she’s been an indispensable member ever since. Congratulations, Janel. Thank you for all you do!