In the Spotlight: Emily Thrasher, Research Scholar with the Friday Institute
| For the In the Spotlight series, we feature one staff member on a regular basis. In this edition, we spotlight Emily Thrasher, a research scholar at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and part of the Hub for Innovation and Research in Statistics and Data Science Education (HI-RiSE) team. Below she answers five questions. 📣 What I tell others about my job: I focus on supporting education broadly with a particular emphasis on mathematics, statistics, and data science education. My work allows me to bridge the gap between research and practice. I love that I can engage in meaningful research that explores how students learn and how teachers teach, while also ensuring that this research doesn’t stay confined to academic journals. ✏️ Favorite part of my job: My favorite part of my job is without a doubt the people I get to work with! I have the privilege of collaborating with dedicated teachers and passionate students across the state. I love getting into classrooms, seeing great instruction in action, and supporting educators as they grow and lead in their schools. In addition to working with educators in the field, I’m fortunate to have a team of supportive, knowledgeable, and driven colleagues. We learn from one another every day making the work not only meaningful but enjoyable. 🌴 What I do away from the job: I love to spend time with my family, my spouse Brad, and our two children, Evan and Lydia. We’re always looking for our next adventure, whether it’s kayaking through the scenic rivers of the North Carolina mountains or zip lining through the lush rainforests of Costa Rica. At home we enjoy spending time with friends—whether it’s cheering on the kids at games or simply catching up over dinner. 💡Something that recently inspired me: “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do no spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.” – Pope Francis ❤️ What I love about the College of Education: Its strong commitment to supporting teachers across North Carolina. The college actively engages with schools and districts addressing real challenges in education within the communities they serve. |
