Advocating, empowering, leading: Daniel Márquez López can’t wait for a career teaching ESL

Daniel Márquez López seized every opportunity at Rowan University.

Now, as he prepares for a career as a high school English and ESL teacher, he’s ready—so ready—to ensure that his future students do the same in their own educational journeys.

“I want to make an impact on the world and our country. I believe the best way I can do that is by providing students with the tools they deserve and by empowering them and their communities,” says Márquez López.

“That’s why I want to work in underserved and underfunded communities. I love being a teacher. I love interacting with students. I love advocating for students. I love when they learn, when I help them realize what they can do.”

On Wednesday, May 14, Márquez López, a first-generation student, will accept his Master of Science in Teaching degree during the College of Education’s Commencement ceremony.

Last year, Márquez López accepted his bachelor’s degree in English from the College of Humanities & Social Sciences with a minor in Spanish, a certificate of undergraduate studies in bilingual/bicultural and ESL education and a concentration in the John H. Martinson Honors College.

This year, with his student teaching in English at Hammonton High School complete, he is earning both his MST and his New Jersey teaching certificate through the University’s BA/MST English Education 4+1 Accelerated Program.

Direct path to teaching

His Rowan academic journey has been five years in the making. But his path to teaching—and his involvement with the College of Education—dates to his teens. As a student at Bridgeton High School, Márquez López was part of the college’s Rowan Urban Teacher Academy. The summer program gave students an inside look into the teaching profession.

Applying to Rowan was a natural progression.

“I only applied to Rowan. It was the only school I knew of,” says Márquez López, whose single mom immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and raised four children—three of whom are Rowan alumni. Márquez López is the first in his family to earn a master’s degree.

“That’s a big deal in my family,” he says.

At Rowan, Márquez López got involved immediately. A student in the ASCEND (Achieving Success through Collaboration, Engagement and Determination) program, he also joined the Project IMPACT (Increasing Male Practitioners and Classroom Teachers) program.

Housed in the College of Education, Project IMPACT’s goal is to increase the representation of males from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds in teaching. Márquez López was assigned an IMPACT brother and a mentor, both of whom were influential, he says.

“Bridgeton is predominantly Latino, but none of my teachers looked like me,” he says. “Through Project IMPACT, I realized I could be a teacher for those populations. That inspired me.”

Mentor, tutor

As his comfort level with Rowan grew, Márquez López made his impact on the University. He was a supplemental instructor in the ASCEND summer program, mentored students of color through the Dr. Harley E. Flack Student Mentoring Program and served as secretary, president and graduate coordinator for the United Latinos Association.

Involved with the Educators for Diversity and Social Equity initiative, Márquez López and  two other students established Threads for Eds, a clothing closet to help provide new teachers with professional clothing.

Additionally, for three years, he has tutored students in the University’s Writing Center—work, he says, that has informed his teaching.

“It definitely made me a better teacher,” says Márquez López. “The biggest problem we address at the Writing Center is the confidence people don’t have in themselves. I help them to understand that writing is very personal. It’s their work. It’s their art.”

Equitable, inclusive teaching practices

Last year, Márquez López completed a six-week Fulbright-Hays study-abroad experience to Oaxaca, Mexico. There, he learned a new language—Zapotec—as he explored classroom techniques focusing on equitable, inclusive teaching practices.

“Having those conversations about linguistic justice is really fun,” he says. “It was eye-opening to work with other people in Mexico.”

As a student representative on the College of Education’s Advisory Board, Márquez López collaborated with the dean, administrators and other professionals from education, government, business and the non-profit sector to advance the college and its programs.

“I saw firsthand how even very important people care about the field of education and about educating students,” he says.

Strong presence

Márquez López will excel teaching ESL classes, says Catherine Michener, a professor of language education in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology and Multilingual Education in the College of Education. Michener coordinates two Certificate of Undergraduate Studies programs: ESL and bilingual education.

“Daniel is a strong presence in the classroom—very deliberate and engaged. He set the tone in our classes for thoughtful, deliberative and supportive instruction,” says Michener.

“He will be a solid support for students. He will meet them there they are and take them as far as they can go. Having an advocate like him is going to be incredible for his students.”

His Rowan career ending, Márquez López carries his many lessons forward, he says.

“There’s no way to teach without loving it and caring about your students and wanting the best for them,” he says. “What I want to be for my students is what Rowan was to me. Rowan helped me to be a better me.”