A teacher is but one villager that helps raise the child.”
Mers’ Story
Teaching Disciplines
Chemistry, Biology
Why Chemistry and Biology
“Chemistry was what I felt most comfortable and competent in since I majored in it, but through my teacher educator program, I fell in love with learning about chemistry and how chemical structures and properties really are the reason for so much of scientific phenomena.
Teaching biology allows me to bring a unique chemistry perspective to biological phenomena, especially valuable for students who may have limited exposure to chemistry in their high school education.”
Professional Experience
Prior to working in education, Mers worked as a scientific researcher for the Metabolomics group under the Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics Department at Genentech. When the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020 disrupted their plans to return to graduate school for education, Mers instead contributed research at UCSF’s Radiology and Bioimaging Department, using mass spectrometry to support brain tumor imaging research. They reapplied to UC Berkeley’s Teacher Education Program (BTEP) each year until the program returned to fully in-person programming, which they then attended and graduated from.
Mers currently teaches Biology at Latitude High in Oakland, California. The 2024-2025 school year will mark their 2nd year of teaching.
Hobbies
Mers practices Old Way Vogue, a dance style pioneered by Black and brown LGBTQ+ communities. They are also deeply involved in community work, volunteering with QTViệtCafe, a cultural healing hub that connects Queer-Trans Việt people through ancestral foodways, arts, and intergenerational relationships. Additionally, they support VietUnity, an organization dedicated to preventing deportation of formerly incarcerated individuals.
Academic Background
- University of California, San Diego (Bachelor of Science in Environmental Systems – Environmental Chemistry)
- University of California, Berkeley (Master of Education)