Melinda Young

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what have you been up to since graduating?
In 2005, I graduated from UIC with a BA in elementary education, beginning my educational journey. Over the past 19 years, I have gained the opportunity to work in the classroom, administration, assessment, coaching, and consulting. No matter which role I have been in, I desire to provide an educational foundation based on authentic learning experiences. I have had the honor of presenting at the West Virginia Great Beginnings conference, Easter Seals professional development week, Teachstone Interact conference, and Illinois Action for Children: Pan Partner Act, to name a few. In 2022 I had the opportunity to participate in the Maria Whelan Leadership Institute Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program, which I now serve on the Alumni Board.

Where are you now? Tell us a bit about your current job.
I rejoined the UIC community this year as the new Little Sparks: CCAMPIS Program Coordinator at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The Little Sparks Program’s mission is to support UIC parent-students by providing affordable, high-quality childcare for infants, toddlers, and young children, along with a comprehensive wraparound care system, study-play areas across campus, accessible lactation rooms with counseling support, year-round family events, and fostering a culture of visibility and belonging. As of October 2023, the University of Illinois Chicago became a proud recipient of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant which is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Little Sparks Program will use grant funds to support student-parents as they complete their education by providing childcare funding and wrap-around support.

How did you first become interested in the ECE field?
This is a tricky question. Reflecting on my career pursuit, I never thought I would go into education. However, From my teenage years on, I always worked with young children, from the nursery at my church to being a teacher’s aide for parents receiving drug counseling. The turning point for me was when I was an undergraduate student and worked as a teacher’s aide aka “naptime teacher” at UIC Children’s Center. This was the first time, I saw, teachers integrate higher-order thinking processes into children’s natural curiosity and play. This planted a seed in me that has been growing ever since.

What do you enjoy the most about this field and your career?
I enjoy making connections and opportunities for others to be themselves, grow, fail, and learn. This is from the children, parents, teachers, administration, and support staff. Nurturing curiosity and hope can be daunting and quickly forgotten as the educational system has many barriers and spaces of contention. Yet, we can move forward when spaces are created to promote curiosity and wonder while uplifting diverse voices. In every role I have taken (i.e., teacher, admin, coach, assessor, coordinator), one thing remained constant: those in ECE want to be respected, heard, and understood as complex learners. Children are not just cute, they are whole beings that are developing, making connections, and figuring out how they fit in the world. ECE teachers are not babysitters, they are practitioners that influence and support significant brain development in the next generations. Parents are children’s first and longest teachers and advocates who learn and develop in this role as they go. Administrators and support staff are juggling how to learn, teach, support, and advocate in an unacknowledged and underfunded system. Everyone wants to be heard and needs support.

What advice would you give other alumni, current or prospective students who aspire to pursue a similar career path?
There are so many avenues in the field of ECE and each arena people need a champion in their corner. In education, you must stay teachable and be willing to learn from all sources (children, parents, etc.). Find opportunities to expand your network, the field of education is a big and a small world all at the same time. Whatever your role, you must have fun and find ways to play.

How has the UIC ECE program impacted your career or the type of educator you are today? OR How has the UIC ECE program prepared you for your career and the type of educator you are today?
When I was in the ECE Masters program at UIC I had the honor of being taught by Barbara Abel, Ph.D., Catherine Main, MEd, and Artin Göncü, PhD. Their passion, conviction, knowledge, and authenticity made me want to learn more. My work at UIC Children’s Center and mentorship from Director Kim Kull empowered me to bring my whole self to the work and take every loss as a lesson.

Please share a favorite story about your time in the ECE UIC program.
I have two favorite memories. The first memory is of the projects and activities we had to complete around Piaget’s 4 Stages of Cognitive Development, block building, and game creation with young children. Having the opportunities to put theories into practice gave me a deeper respect for the complexity of learning during play and social interactions.

My second favorite memory was the last day our cohort came together at Dr. Göncü’s house. It was a game changer because we went from a teacher-student dynamic to breaking bread with a fellow educator. The experience humanized my professors and created connections that I still have with classmates.

What do you enjoy doing with your free time? Family? Hobbies? Interests?
During my free time, I enjoy time with my family. I am a wife, mother of two bold young ladies, and a caregiver to my mother. I enjoy playing board games with the family, sitting on the porch people-watching, traveling whenever possible, and creating. I have created candles and jewelry, reupholstered furniture, and designed parties and events.