Hello! My name is Marissa Tsugawa, but you can call me M. I am a neurodivergent, biracial, queer educator, researcher, scientist, engineer, parent, mentor, writer, & artist.

I was born in Southern California, but I spent most of my life Northern Nevada. I attended the University of Nevada, Reno where I received a BS in Mechanical Engineering (Minor in Physics), MS in Mechanical Engineering, and PhD in Engineering Education. After receiving my degrees, I studied as a postdoc then accepted a faculty position at Utah State University. I conducted engineering education research at Utah State where I explored neurodivergent engineering student experiences. In my career, I aspire to create and support inclusive and accessible STEM education environments. My research fueled my passion for teaching and inspired me to pursue it full time.

I currently am the engineering instructor at Truckee Meadows Community College where I teach Introduction to Engineering Design, Statics, and Dynamics.