Mia Cappuccitti-Gutierrez planned on being a teacher. But during her classroom observations in high school English classes, she discovered a passion for education policy over classroom teaching.
"I found myself continuously drawn to having conversations with my cooperating educators that revolved less around teaching techniques and pedagogy, and more around inequities in the school system and struggles faced by my students," Cappuccitti-Gutierrez said.
She described seeing classroom teachers spend their own money to provide supplies neither the children's families nor the district could afford. She also had a high school student share that her dream was to become an English teacher, too, but her family needed her to work instead of going to college.
"I became strong in my newfound conviction that I didn’t just want to teach that young girl Shakespeare, I wanted to be a part of the fix in the system that finally gave her the resources to teach it to someone else," Cappuccitti-Gutierrez said. "I needed to be a part of the change to the law of education."
In the summer of 2025, Cappuccitti-Gutierrez landed an internship with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce as part of UD's Statehouse Civic Scholars program led by Bob Taft, former Ohio governor and champion for educational policy reform. She worked with policymakers and lawyers to amend and review bills, met with senators and representatives to discuss funding allocations, and aided her colleagues in constructing curriculum plans and identifying priorities within the education system for elected officials.
"Mia impressed me from the minute we met and began talking about her goals and aspirations," said Jackie Marshall Arnold, professor in teacher education and mentor to Cappuccitti-Gutierrez. "It was my absolute pleasure to connect her with Governor Taft, who is such a gift to our campus in helping students find opportunities to learn, lead, and serve through state and national policy initiatives.
"Mia is everything we need right now as a bright, passionate leader for the common good for our university and our country," Arnold said.
Cappuccitti-Gutierrez, who graduates in May 2026, is planning to spend a year teaching English in Spain before attending law school. She knows that all of these experiences will contribute to her ability to make a difference in the world of education access.
"Some of my most formative experiences here have come from someone going out of their way to connect me with just the right person or take the time to talk through my plans and ideas," she said. "I would not be where I am today, or pursuing what I’ve chosen to, without the University of Dayton."
