UW Honors to Boise State
Makayla Kocher | Honors College Alumni
Published March 05, 2026
6 Minute Read
In the fall of 2025
I started working as an educational development specialist at Boise State University’s Center for Teaching and Learning. In this position, I work directly with faculty across disciplines to develop and implement evidence-based programs that foster inclusive and engaging learning environments. Each day in my role is unique, but I can be found engaging with the many dimensions of teaching and learning here at BSU. Currently, I am meeting with faculty to discuss their courses, participating in and running workshops, and helping plan our “big” university-wide Teaching and Learning Summit.
As I continue to learn and develop, a few key themes have emerged: the value of interdisciplinary knowledge, approaching every situation with curiosity, and fostering purpose in all I do. As I reflect on these thematic threads of my professional experience, I am also reflecting on the experiences that helped me develop these skills. I can distinctly recall my time in the UW Honors College. During my time at UW, I found a home in the Honors College, one that provided experiences and opportunities that allowed me to flourish and discover a sense of purpose. The courses I took fostered in me a deep curiosity and a desire to approach every opportunity and challenge with an interdisciplinary mindset. The opportunities I had as a SOAR mentor and graduate assistant enabled me with mentoring, leadership, and communication skills, while being part of the Honors community fostered within me the curiosity and relationship-building necessary for any professional setting. Truly, I can attribute part of who I am today to my time in UW’s Honors College, so continue to be curious and embrace every new opportunity or challenge as it comes. For me, the Honors College will forever be a home and a community that I will cherish, and I will cherish the relationships and mentorships I gained through it all.
