Malaika Nall ’18: From Student to Teacher

When Malaika Nall ’18 steps into the History 9 classroom this year, she will be experiencing Marlborough from an entirely new perspective. As our inaugural ViBEE (Violets for Building Equity in Education) Fellow, Ms. Nall’s presence represents both a homecoming and a pioneering step forward in diversifying education.

The ViBEE Fellowship is designed to diversify the teaching profession and empower the next generation of educators. Through a partnership with Loyola Marymount University’s School of Education, the program provides Marlborough alumnae of color with a fully funded pathway into teaching. Fellows co-teach alongside expert faculty, receive personalized mentorship, and earn a Master of Arts in Educational Studies from LMU—all at no cost while receiving compensation and benefits as part-time faculty members.

 “It was really an immediate gut feeling,” Ms. Nall reflects on her decision to apply for the program. “The moment I started reading about it and came back to campus, I knew this was right.”

The Making of a Teacher
Ms. Nall’s path to education was shaped by the very same ever-graceful halls of learning she now walks as an educator. She speaks passionately about her former teachers—particularly Dean of Studies Jonathon Allen and the entire History Department. “They found a way to make the material so exciting, even when it was challenging,” she remembers. It was Mr. Allen’s AP World History class, with its dynamic roundtable discussions and fast-paced learning, that particularly stuck with her. 

“He shaped the way I thought about school and made me feel so supported,” she explains. “That is something I have always wanted to give to others.”

After graduating from Marlborough in 2018, Ms. Nall earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Howard University in 2021. Now, as she pursues her teaching credential and Master of Arts in Transformative Education at LMU through the ViBEE Fellowship, she has come full circle—from student to educator, carrying forward the inspiration her own Marlborough teachers provided.

The Power of Representation
For Ms. Nall, the ViBEE program’s mission resonates deeply on a personal level. “I have always looked to my teachers at every stage of my educational career—the ones who look like me,” she shares. “You gravitate towards them. There is that unspoken connection with people who truly understand what it is like to be in your position.”

Ms. Nall sees this opportunity as a chance to be an extension of her students. “I can be their voice when needed, support when needed. I can model to them that this is one path they could take in life—there are limitless options, and this is one.” Her vision for representation extends beyond identity to encompass the full spectrum of human experience. “It is not only about my identity and the students’ identities, but also about the content we will be discussing in a history class. There is a full range of human experiences that I want to be able to highlight and spotlight thoughtfully.”

Learning from the Best
The transition from student to colleague has been “really exciting,” Ms. Nall notes, particularly the opportunity to observe her former teachers from “the other side of the desk.” Global Futures Institute Program Head and History Instructor Alexandra Mohr is serving as Ms. Nall’s mentor teacher. “We feel so fortunate to have Ms. Nall on the history team to help provide the best educational experience possible for our students,” Ms. Mohr shares. 

“Ms. Mohr is an incredible teacher,” Ms. Nall gushes. She describes Ms. Mohr as someone who “engages the students” beautifully, representing everything Ms. Nall hopes to achieve in her own practice. 

Dreams for the Future
Looking ahead, Ms. Nall dreams of redefining what it means to be a teacher and elevating the profession’s importance. “I want teaching to be seen as one of the most important career paths you can be part of,” she says. “It really is a community and we should constantly endeavor to elevate it.”

Her ultimate vision extends beyond Marlborough’s campus. Living in Inglewood and commuting past numerous schools daily, Ms. Nall dreams of seeing “all the beautiful resources available to students here offered to everyone everywhere.”

As Ms. Nall prepares to welcome her first class of 9th graders, she is focused on getting to know them individually and tailoring her approach to how they learn best. “It is really important to me to figure out how I can support students in learning these skills that will carry them through the rest of their life—critical thinking and expanding the mind.”

With her deep connection to Marlborough, her passion for history, and her commitment to representation and equity, Malaika Nall ’18 embodies the transformative potential of the ViBEE program. As she steps into her role as an educator, she carries with her not just the knowledge she has gained, but the inspiration to create the same supportive, challenging environment that has shaped and propelled her own journey.