Grace Izzo is graduating with Salve’s first degree in chemistry and secondary education

Many students choose a college based on the academic programs that are offered. In the case of Grace Izzo ’21, she was welcomed to Salve Regina with the intent of building a unique curriculum and is now graduating with the University’s first degree in chemistry and secondary education.

Izzo transferred to Salve Regina after attending St. Vincent College and taking courses at a community college near her hometown on Long Island. She chose Salve Regina because she liked the comfort of feeling like she was at home.

Originally a biology major who wanted to attend dental school, Izzo changed majors after realizing that she loved chemistry. She didn’t want a 9-5 job in a lab, and while she was exploring other career paths, she thought of being a teacher.

“I didn’t know anything about the education department, but I did know that I wanted to do chemistry and education,” Izzo said. “Once I knew I wanted to come here, Salve went above and beyond to push the program so that I could stay and graduate.”

Dr. Susan Meschwitz, Izzo’s advisor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, said that the department was open to the program but hadn’t had any interest prior to Izzo. Meschwitz worked closely with Izzo to support her unique course of study.

“I’m paving the way for others now,” Izzo said. “There is a sophomore who is interested, so she will have my work to look back on. And in the long run, that will support her.”

Learning to love education

Izzo’s decision to study secondary education came from a desire to do something out of the ordinary with chemistry, but she learned to translate that enthusiasm into teaching her students.

“When we got into the classroom my sophomore year, I was at Thompson Middle School in Newport,” she said. “Once I was in my sixth-grade science class and I was put in with the kids, directing them, being there for them and developing relationships – that’s when I really knew this is what I want to do.”

Izzo is currently student teaching at Portsmouth High School. While she always thought she would teach high school, as she gains more experience in the classroom, she has realized she would also consider teaching middle school.

“I really like those kids,” she said. “They are still developing and learning; they are cute and they are very funny. They still have that outgoing personality that kids start to lose once they hit high school.”

Article by student writer Anna Downes ’22