Jillian Porter is a third year Ph.D. student in the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology Program studying host-symbiont interactions in the Sullivan lab. Her passion for teaching and mentoring stems from invaluable experiences working with students in K-12 education, particularly those in special education and from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These encounters, coupled with Jillian’s personal journey coping with a physical illness, have fortified her commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity in STEM education. Jillian hopes to integrate what she has learned from TLC into her own teaching practice as well as her department’s so that all students who enter a biology classroom feel welcome, capable, and well equipped to learn.