Elizabeth Lowney
How One Teacher Brings the World Into Her Classroom
Elizabeth Lowney knew she wanted to teach. But it wasn’t until she enrolled at Marywood University that she discovered how she could truly make an impact.
Elizabeth grew up in Red Hook, New York, and graduated from Linden Avenue Middle School herself. She had always loved working with kids and sharing her passion for language, but she wanted a program that would let her dive straight into her major and finish her degrees efficiently. After researching colleges, Elizabeth chose Marywood because the university accepted all of the college credits she had earned in high school. This allowed her to jump right into classes related to her major and even graduate early, earning a BA in Spanish, and start teaching sooner.
Marywood’s flexibility didn’t stop there. Elizabeth was able to complete her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) online, something she had already started during her undergraduate years, while completing her student teaching in the very school where she now teaches.
“Marywood gave me the flexibility I needed to earn the degrees that allowed me to come home and teach in New York,” Elizabeth said.
Today, Elizabeth teaches 7th and 8th grade Spanish at Linden Avenue Middle School. One of her proudest classroom projects has been Cooking for Change, where her eighth-grade students transformed the school cafeteria into a Mexican restaurant to raise funds for a community kitchen in Mérida, Mexico. Over 250 community members attended, helping her students raise more than $4,200, enough to provide nearly four months of meals for women and children in need.
“I wanted to give my students as authentic an experience as I possibly can, with another culture, another lifestyle, another background, something to expand their worldview,” Elizabeth said. “It was amazing to feed our local community while also helping a community halfway across the globe.”
Marywood not only prepared Elizabeth academically but also gave her the confidence and support to create meaningful experiences for her students. Beyond the classroom, Marywood connected her with some of her closest friends through campus clubs and groups. She encourages current and prospective students to get involved, saying, “Meeting new friends through shared experiences is one of the most special parts of college.”