Like many students, Abigail Dunn wasn’t sure what she wanted to do before she began college.
She thought education might be a good fit, so she worked at a summer school for a term.
After that experience, she knew exactly what she was meant to do.
“I have always been interested in education,” Dunn said. “I had a summer job where I worked as a summer school teaching fellow, essentially, and I really fell in love with education and working with kids. It became pretty obvious to me at that point that if I wanted to go into education, I wanted to be doing English education and literacy education.”
Dunn came to Moscow from California. Her grandparents used to live in Moscow, so for her first year on campus she lived with them. She fell in love with the area.
Valerie Blackburn | Argonaut
“I’ve met really incredible people,” Dunn said. “This is going to sound corny, but truly lifelong friendships I know have come from my time here.”
She busied herself with her studies, seeking out unique opportunities wherever she could find them. Once she decided that she wanted to teach English, she became a tutor at the writing center.
Dunn stays active outside of her academic life. She previously served as secretary of the rock climbing club. She served as president this year. Dunn estimated that the club has 65 dues paying members, 20 members that regularly attend practices and at least 165 members on the roster. She has led the club since her sophomore year.
“In my freshman year, I accidentally got myself elected to be the secretary and now I’m the president,” Dunn said. “I love rock climbing. I love that group of people and that community.”
On top of her classwork and club responsibilities, Dunn is finishing her undergraduate thesis through the Honors Program. Her friend, Katherine Woodhouse, said she has been studying African culture and literature.
“I am a really passionate person,” Dunn said. “I care a lot about education equity. That’s why I’m doing Teach for America (when I graduate). I really care about things and I’m really passionate about the things that matter to me.”
The two students met at honors orientation their freshman year. Woodhouse said Dunn mentors others and helps people in as many ways as she can. She described her as hardworking, a good listener and someone who is always there when people need her.
“I think her best quality is that in everything she does she tries to help people,” Woodhouse said. “Whether that’s running a team where she’s always trying to help underclassmen and people who are new to it. At the writing center she’s always trying to help people from different backgrounds. She’s going into teaching next year, that’s definitely her biggest goal. She’s a giver.”
Dunn will continue to make a difference in her community after her time at UI. Following graduation, Dunn will travel to Richmond, CA to work with Teachers for America. She will teach English in under-resourced secondary schools. She wants to make a difference.
“It’s a very highly gentrified area,” Dunn said. “The schools there have historically been very under-resourced. I’m really excited. That’s the kind of school I want to be at.”
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]