MTRP Staff

Whitney Taylor, Director

Whitney Taylor In July 2022, the Multicultural Teacher Recruitment Program welcomed Whitney Taylor as the new Program Director. She brings a wide range of experience within a variety of educational sectors. These include public K-8 and non-profit 9-12. Whitney has a student-centered mindset and is a champion for her community. She is dedicated to removing barriers, cultivating a sense of purpose and empowering students to rise above their circumstances. Prior to joining the University of Louisville, Whitney spent over a decade with Jefferson County Public Schools and served in several roles. The most recent role focused on the development and implementation of curriculum to help bridge achievement gaps in schools. Whitney, her husband, two young sons, and German Shepard Major are U of L Cardinal fans. While away from work Whitney and family enjoy staying active, cooking, seeking out new local and international adventures. We are very excited to have her.

 

Massiel Morales González, Coordinator

Massiel Morales González

The University of Louisville Multicultural Teacher Recruitment Program (MTRP) is thrilled to announce Massiel Morales González as its new program coordinator. Morales González brings a wealth of experience and passion for education. Originally, from Cuba, Morales González moved to Spain at a young age to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Barcelona (UB). After moving to the United States in 2011, she began working as a substitute teacher. Morales González then started working as an instructional assistant at Indian Trail Elementary School in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) while earning a master of arts in Spanish from UofL. Later she taught as an English as a second language teacher (ESL) at Farnsley Middle School and most recently at Fairdale High School. Her experiences in Louisville opened her eyes to the high need for teachers, especially multilingual learners, and their families. This realization led her to her current role in MTRP, through which she is excited to expand her passion and strengthen support systems for diverse learners.

Shanga Mwenda, Graduate Assistant

Shanga Mwenda

Starting in August 2023, Shanganani Mwenda joined the Multicultural Teacher Recruitment Program as a Graduate Assistant. Shanga is pursuing a Master of Education in Counselling and Personnel Services to be prepared to engage in the practice of professional counselling. She hopes to bring her passion for advocacy in mental healthcare and experiences as an immigrant to serve students from diverse backgrounds pursuing teacher education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from UofL, through the Individualized Major program, designing the curriculum to prepare her for immigration law. Over time, Shanga recognized a need for advocacy work outside of the legal context and felt a pull to the mental healthcare field. In her free time, Shanga enjoys going on adventures with friends, walks, and reading books in local coffee shops.

Destiny Robinson, Student Worker

Destiny Robinson

Starting in September 2023, Destiny Robinson joined our MTRP team. Destiny is an undergraduate student majoring in psychology. She is from Chicago and is excited to be a student at UofL. Additionally, being a federal work study for MTRP has been amazing! I have met so many new people and everyone is so nice and helpful. It's a wonderful feeling to know MTRP is my new family while away from home. Go Cards!