This article originally appeared as First Look content, as a member benefit to SU Global Community members, inside the SU Global Community here.
Hi everyone! My name is Lila Faria and I am the new Global Chapter Digital Community Manager here at Singularity University. I am excited to be here and looking forward to meeting you all.
For today’s Chapter Member Spotlight, I wanted to tell you a little about myself.
I (Lila Faria) am an alternative education enthusiast. After struggling with auditory processing disorder (APD) in public school, I went to NYU with a mission of studying and designing teaching and learning environments that moved away from traditional, lecture-based American education. I named my interdisciplinary major, “Play Grounds” - or the study of places where play and learning can simultaneously occur.
As part of my studies, I explored museums, schools, camps, educational video games, and playgrounds in New York City (USA), Berlin (Germany) and London (UK). Post-college, I traveled across the West Coast, investigating blues and fusion social dance educational practices. I ended up settling in Seattle (USA) where I spent my days working at a local Montessori school. At night, I ran my own dance education program and helped organize four of the largest social dances in the city: Savoy’s Blues Underground, Om Fusion, Alibi Blues and Micro Mu&I.
After COVID hit, I started working at Bellevue Community College’s XR/VR Lab as their Program Specialist. There, I connect alternative education with technology, co-running a VR course and networking in XR spaces like VirBELA, Gather and AltSpaceVR.
Today, I continue to work at Bellevue College part-time while also transitioning into this exciting new role at SingularityU. I spend my free time singing, dancing, and occasionally performing ballads with jazz musicians around Seattle Center. I look forward to using my alternative background to support and connect SU’s incredible Global Chapter community!
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About Member Spotlights: Once a week I will be highlighting a member of our Community to ensure we learn more about each other’s accomplishments, passions, and personalities.
If you’re interested in being spotlit (or nominating another excellent community member), send me a DM on the SU Global Community website or app with your bio and a fun photo!