Teaching I have served as a teaching assistant, guest lecturer, and instructor for a number of academic and technical courses. I strive to integrate classroom, field, laboratory, and online instruction to foster diversity in learning environments. As a teacher, I prefer to use active learning techniques in order to better engage students and be more inclusive of diverse learning backgrounds. I believe the best teaching is achieved by weaving fact, principle, and theory into effective storytelling that allows students to relate to the importance of the subject matter.
One of my primary goals as an advisor is to position students to be highly competitive for permanent jobs or graduate school upon graduating. My background puts me in a unique situation to achieve this goal, as I have worked in high-level positions at agencies and companies in addition to my work in academia.
Mentoring
One of the most rewarding forms of teaching is one-on-one mentorship. I strive to get my students involved in the full scientific process, rather than data collection alone. I motivate my students to the extent that they procure their own research funding and present their work to the general public and scientific community. Serving as a mentor has proven to be an incredibly valuable experience, and it is well worth the extra time and effort. What I find most exhilarating is witnessing a student grow into a capable researcher and/or professional by working with them to strengthen their weaknesses, fill their knowledge gaps, and teach them analytical skills.