麻豆色播

When Lily Tsomos 鈥�25 transferred to Towson University from Harford Community College, she didn鈥檛 know exactly what to expect. She had never stepped foot on campus, but she knew two things: She loved math, and she wanted to teach it. What she didn鈥檛 anticipate was how much support, opportunity and community she would find through the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program and Towson UTeach.

鈥淚 decided I was going to TU in May [2023]  without even visiting, but the transfer team made it so easy,鈥� Tsomos says. 鈥淚 knew it had a great program for math educators, and I reached out to the UTeach director right away. Within a week, I had my entire two-year plan emailed to me.鈥�

That early outreach set the tone for the rest of her experience 麻豆色播. On her first day, she showed up 30 minutes early for the UTeach program鈥攏ervous, excited and eager to start. What she found was a community that would support her academically and personally.

The summer after graduating TU, Tsomos spent time serving as a daily substitute teacher in Harford County and deciding which full-time teaching job offer she planned on taking.

鈥淚 always say the reason I got so many offers is because of the inquiry-based teaching strategies I learned through UTeach,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trained to design lessons where students build the knowledge themselves. It鈥檚 about engaging students in a way that makes them think deeply and collaboratively.鈥�

But it wasn鈥檛 just teaching methods that shaped her confidence鈥攊t was the people around her. As a woman taking advanced mathematics courses to achieve her undergraduate degree in mathematics, she often found herself in the minority. But joining the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program changed that.

鈥淚 was surrounded by women who were doing incredible things in STEM,鈥� she says. 鈥淪ome were going into research, some into medicine, others into education like me鈥攂ut what connected us was our drive and the support we gave each other.鈥�

Tsomos appreciated that Hill-Lopes didn鈥檛 just focus on research careers. 鈥淓ven though education is female-dominated, being a woman in advanced math classes is still rare. Hill-Lopes helped me feel seen. They made it clear that your path in STEM is valid no matter what direction you take.鈥�

Through Hill-Lopes, she connected with mentors who helped her beyond the classroom. One of those mentors was Ming Tomayko, associate dean for teaching and student success from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, whose area of expertise is math education. Over multiple conversations, Tomayko provided valuable insights about how to get involved in math education research, how to select a graduate program and how to navigate the job search process. 

鈥淟ily鈥檚 dedication to learning and her desire to make math meaningful for her future students was evident,鈥� says Tomayko. 鈥淗elping students like her connect their academic work with their professional goals is exactly what programs like the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program does.鈥�

That theme of connection runs through everything Tsomos says about her time 麻豆色播. Whether it was faculty who held tutoring hours on Saturdays, peers who became lifelong friends or mentors who offered career advice, she found a community that lifted her up.

鈥淚 want to be that person for my students,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had amazing teachers who made me feel safe asking for help, and that changed how I felt about math. I want my classroom to be a place where students feel comfortable. Especially in math鈥攖hat鈥檚 so important.鈥�

To students thinking about teaching or STEM education, Tsomos鈥� advice is simple: 鈥淒on鈥檛 run away from something just because it looks hard. Find your people. Reach out to your professors. Get involved in programs like Hill-Lopes and UTeach. That鈥檚 how I ended up spending Saturdays with my professors鈥攂ecause we built that relationship.鈥�

Her journey from community college student to confident educator was shaped by people who believed in her. Now she鈥檚 ready to do the same for her students.

鈥淚 love math. I love teaching. And I love the idea that I get to be the person who makes someone else feel seen and capable. That鈥檚 wh麻豆色播 gave me鈥攁nd now I get to pay it forward.鈥�

Lily Tsomos '25 (fourth from left) with her graduating Hill-Lopes Scholars Program cohort.