We are thrilled to introduce Allyson Horst, our newest Bridge Year Fellow! A sophomore from Naples, Florida, Allyson is a double major in Public Policy and Geography, with a minor in Education at Carolina. Her passion for education equity and teacher rights in the American South has driven her research on teacher retention rates in the Triangle region as a Zietlow Fellow, culminating in a documentary exploring the challenges first-year educators face.
Beyond her research, Allyson is deeply engaged in campus life—serving as the Treasurer on the Daily Tar Heel Board of Directors, a Matriculate Advising Fellow, Co-Director of the Marketing Committee at Honors Carolina, and a co-host of the Catalyze podcast at the Morehead-Cain Foundation. She is also an Agora Fellow in the Program for Public Discourse.
Now, Allyson is taking her passion for education global. During her Bridge Year, she plans to volunteer in primary schools across the Himalayan region of India and Nepal, as well as work as a teacher’s aide in Guatemala and Peru. Through these experiences, she hopes to gain firsthand insight into global education systems, teacher preparation, and student development.
Allyson shares, “I am excited to learn from students and teachers around the world!”
We can’t wait to follow Allyson’s journey and see the impact she will make. Stay tuned for updates from her travels!