Student Funding Spotlight with Esther Pretti: Enrichment Fellowship

The Graduate College Enrichment Fellowship, formerly the Interdisciplinary Enrichment Fellowship is currently open for nominations of outstanding incoming graduate students. Recently admitted students who will begin their ASU graduate degree program in Fall 2022 are encouraged to let their department know if they would like to be considered for nomination. Nominations for the 2022-2023 academic year are due by February 11, 2022.

We are pleased to highlight a recipient of the Interdisciplinary Enrichment Fellowship in this "Student Spotlight" to share how the award impacted her success here at ASU and provide her insight for current and future students.

Student Spotlight: Esther Pretti

Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil

ASU Degree Program: Educational Policy and Evaluation PhD, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

Year in program: 5th Year

Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2022

Tell us briefly about why you selected your current degree progam at ASU:

I selected the PhD program in Education Policy and Evaluation at Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College because I believe in the power of education to transform people and policies to better the world. I worked for several years with environmental policies and environmental education, and I was ready to take the next step and dedicate myself fully to educational research and philosophy.

How has receiving this fellowship effected your experience at ASU?

Receiving the fellowship was a mark in my graduate studies. It was the first time someone understood and believed in my research in this country, and it was a big boost to my confidence to receive that recognition and support. The Colloquium was a safe and supportive environment that lead me to meet people from all over ASU and the world, and set my graduate studies in motion in a very encouraging way.

Beyond the financial benefits, are there other aspects of this fellowship program that had a personal impact on you? 

Yes, the activities we developed along that year helped me situate myself in graduate school in the U.S. and also gave me the opportunity to participate in change making initiatives across ASU, something I would not have had the opportunity to engage with had I not been part of the fellowship. I also met other international students and was able to receive peer support and eventually become a mentor to incoming students myself.

What has been the most valuable or impactful part of your ASU graduate student experience so far?

The most impactful experience(s) for me has been twofold. First, it was to recognize and situate myself as a latina woman in a North American academic setting, and understand that my experiences and background held as much value as anyone else’s. Second was the transition from a practitioner mindset to a researcher mindset. I’ve learned to see the world differently and ask different questions because of my training, and that has made me a much better researcher in the end.

What are your career goals after your doctoral program?

I aim to continue to do research and become a university professor myself. I have always loved to teach and learn with my students and want to continue to do that, and want to put my training as a researcher in practice to help other minority women succeed in academia.

What advice do you have for incoming graduate students to help them have a successful academic experience?

I’d have to say jump in with all you got. It’s a lot of new information and an entire new culture, but don’t hold back. Dive right in, ask as many questions as you can, read and write as much as you can. Don’t hold back, surrender yourself to this learning experience and make the most of it!

Are there specific members of the ASU community who have contributed to your success here? How? 

Yes, I have found peer mentors as well as other students with similar background to lean on and share experiences with. Look for people who resonate with you and build your own little scholarly and personal community with them. My advisor has also always been a safe place for me to talk through ideas and feelings, and I’d advise incoming students to try to find someone like that, an advisor who’s got your back no matter what.