Teaching





Appalachian State is a teaching-intensive university, and I teach a variety of undergraduate courses within the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences; these include Introduction to Physical Geology, a writing-intensive research methods class (Preparation for Careers in Earth and Environmental Sciences), Geology Field Methods, and an advanced class (Petrology & Petrography) that involves a combination of intensive lab work and guided independent group research.

I also teach a graduate-level research methods class to my graduate research students from the Biology Department (Geomicrobiology Research Methods) on an as-needed basis.

As part of the Appalachian Studies Faculty, I also team-teach an interdisciplinary general education class about the social, political, economic, geological, and environmental aspects of energy production in the Appalachians (Energy Extraction in Appalachia - Past, Present, and Future).

Courses

  • Introduction to Physical Geology (GES1101)

  • Preparation for Careers in Earth and Environmental Sciences (GES2750)

  • Geology Field Methods (GES2751)

  • Fundamentals of Mineralogy (GES3220) - Fall 2019 only

  • Petrology & Petrography (GES3715)

  • Energy Extraction in Appalachia: Past, Present, and Future (GES2301, cross-listed with Appalachian Studies AS2301). From 2010-2019 this class was called The History of Coal from the Pennsylvanian to the Present - the name has been changed to better reflect course content.

  • Geomicrobiology Research Methods (GES5500)

All course content can be found on ASULearn.

Teaching Awards

  • College of Arts and Sciences Academy of Outstanding Teachers (2022)

  • Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award (2020)

  • Wayne D. Duncan Appalachian State University Faculty Enrichment and Teaching Fellowship (2013)