Dr. Matuschka was born and raised in Chicago where she attended Chicago Public Schools. She was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. NEIU is like her second home because she completed an undergraduate degree in Communication (2004), a graduate degree in Higher Education Leadership (2007), and has worked here in numerous roles. Her career in higher education started as a Graduate Assistant in Academic Advising in 2005, she went on to establish an Off Campus Program for SIUC, and then began a position in Teacher Preparation in 2011. Since then, she has taught in the First-Year Experience program, completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Curriculum Studies at DePaul University, conducted research studies, and completed projects for the Goodwin Dean of Education. She’s happy to be working with future educators as the new TRIO Assistant Director of Teacher Preparation.