My primary goals for my students are the following:
Learn physics (both knowledge and problem-solving)
Develop transferable skills such as spreadsheet use and scientific thinking
To achieve these goals, I organize and lead my classes based on evidence of what helps students learn. Here are some principles (in no particular order):
Active learning: Students will not learn much by passively listening and taking notes during a traditional lecture. Students will learn physics by doing physics and testing their understanding continuously. I provide opportunities for students to discuss their ideas and work with others in both lecture and lab.
Steady progress and prompt feedback: I have many small graded activities as opposed to a few high-stakes ones. I provide solutions to homework soon after due dates. I respond to email and online discussion quickly. I generally correct work within a day.
Challenge: Doing difficult things is an opportunity for growth. Just as lifting a few light weights or going on a short, slow jog generally doesn't lead to significant gains in physical fitness, solving easy problems alone does not lead to significant gains in physics fitness.
Academic honesty: I require proctors for exams for my online students. I design assignments that make cheating difficult and I officially report violations.
Thrift: I strive to keep costs down while maintaining quality.
I encourage use of inexpensive ($5) older editions of textbooks. I provide free copies in the library.
I post free lab instructions online.
I use an open-source online homework system (MyOpenMath).
My kits for online GS 104 labs are sold to the bookstore for about $15.
Inclusion and accessibility: My classes continue to include large numbers of women (even a majority in some cases) in a field historically dominated by men. I strive to have good relationships with Chemeketa's Accessibility Services, Chemeketa's college access programs, and the students who use their services. I have 10-15 office hours per week. And I log in to our online learning management system multiple times per weekday.
Physics is fun: Attitude is infectious. So I strive to maintain a positive attitude towards the students, the subject, and my job.
Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR, USA
Teaching
Lab courses for 200-level physics (PH 214 to PH 216): 2023- present
General Science: Physics (GS 104), 2022-present
General Science: Astronomy labs (GS 107) , 2017-2022
Algebra-based physics sequence online (PH 201 to PH 203), 2005-2023
Algebra-based physics sequence, campus-based (PH 201 to PH 203), 2001-2020 and 2022-present
Calculus-based physics sequence (PH 211 to PH 213), 2001-2016
Hydroelectric and Geothermal Energy Systems (RNW 140), 2011, 2013
Technical physics (PH 111), 2004-2009
Physics, math, and astronomy for Upward Bound (high school summer program), 2001-2005
Committees
Academic Standards proctoring subcommittee, 2022-2023
Life and physical science return to campus task force, spring 2021
Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee, 2020-2022
Canvas implementation subcommittee member
Chair of funding subcommittee
Online Education Committee, 2020
Learning Management System Committee, 2019
Evaluated RFPs
Health Insurance Task Force, 2011-2016
Helped develop Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and HSA-eligible health plans for employees
Diversity Advisory Council, 2010-2013
Affirmed the right of employees to speak a language of their choice
Began work on a policy for trans inclusive and gender neutral bathrooms
Textbook Advisory Committee 2009-2010
Collected and publicized strategies for reducing textbook costs for students
Employee Wellness Committee, 2002-2007
Helped with activities such as the employee wellness fair and the pedometer challenge
Academic Standards Committee, 2002-2006
Helped develop the Associate of Science degree
Physical Science Hiring Committees, 2005, 2008, 2014, and 2016
Evaluated written applications and conducted extensive interviews for two chemistry and two physics positions
Student and Staff Activities
Board game/D&D student club adviser, 2017-2018
Student versus Staff Basketball organizer and player, 2005-2017
Chemeketa Hood to Coast running team, 2002-2022
CHAMPION Mentorship Program 2009-2010
High Five trivia game student adviser, 2006-2007
College Bowl trivia game student adviser, 2002-2003
Other Duties
President for the Oregon section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (March 2025-present)
Vice president for the Oregon section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (March 2023-March 2025)
STEM faculty panel for FYE (First Year Experience) science students, 2024-present
Quality Online Instruction course reviewer 2024-present
Science and psychology inservice day co-organizer 2023-2024
Maintenance of physics website, 2020-present
Chemeketa science fair, 2023-present
Co-manager of a TV in the hallway for the science programs, 2022-present
Developed open source online homework for GS 104, PH 201, PH 202, and PH 203 using MyOpenMath, 2021-present
Girl Scout STEM Day workshop leader, fall 2024
Host for Central Western Oregon Science Expo (high school science fair), March 2024 and 2026
Reformed course outlines for PH 207, PH 208, and PH 209 (astronomy), February 2024
Reformed curriculum for GS 104 (General Science: Physics), December 2023
Reviewed manuscripts (TPT23-AR-00603, TPT23-AR-00603R, and TPT25-AR-00417) for The Physics Teacher, 2023-2025
Started a petition to name the unit for momentum for Emmy Noether, 2023
Developed a separate lab sequence (PH214, PH215, and PH216) to split off from the lectures for PH201-PH203 and PH211-PH213 so as to better accommodate student schedules, 2022-2023
Presenter at the Chemeketa Tech Fair, 2019, 2022, and 2024
Developed $10/term lab kits for GS 104, 2021
Developed $40/term lab kits for algebra and calculus-based physics sequences (PH 201-203 and PH 211-213), 2020
Production of "lightboard" videos, 2019-present
Physical science program review presenter, 2019
Wrote part of physical science program review, 2005 and 2018-2019
Principal Investigator for National Science Foundation grant Distance Learning Labs for Introductory Physics (award number 1505086), 2015-2018
Co-PIs Dr. Erik Bodegom and Dr. David Sokoloff
Consultant for National Science Foundation grant Optics and Photonics Training for Inquisitive eXperimentalists (OPTIX) (award number 1505919), 2015-2018
Helped develop brochure for Chemeketa physical science program, 2013
USDA STEM Teacher Seminar on Hydro and Wave Energy, 2013
Consultant for NSF grant Science and Engineering in the Lives of Students headed by Dr. Lawrence Flick, Oregon State University, 2008-2010
Reviewed the textbook College Physics, A Strategic Approach, 1st edition, Knight, Jones, and Field
Reviewed the textbook Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 6th edition, Tipler and Mosca
Developed curriculum for three fully online algebra-based physics courses (including custom lab kits for use at home), 2004-2005
Built and maintained physical science program website, 2002-2017
Developed curriculum for Upward Bound math, 2000
Reed's School, Cobham, Surrey, UK
Taught GCSE and A level physics
Developed demonstrations using PASCO electronic sensors
Coached basketball
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Taught introductory astronomy labs for Dr. Griffiths, 2000-2001
Worked on a team under Dr. Rubin Landau that developed a computational physics major, 2000-2001
Assisted Dr. Kenneth Krane with revision of the textbook Physics, Halliday, Resnick, and Krane, 2000
Taught algebra-based physics labs and recitations for Dr. Kenneth Krane, 1999-2000
Assistant to Dr. Erik Bodegom, physics department chair, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
Revised and maintained department website
Provided technical support in student computer lab
Server, painter, hotel front desk, pizza deliverer, farm laborer, dishwasher, and newspaper deliverer
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
This was a non-thesis master's degree earned through coursework and the PhD qualifying exam.
Portland State University, Portland, OR
Member spotlight for the American Association of Physics Teachers, 2024
Quality Matters recognition of PH201 online, 2011
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need fellowship at Oregon State University, 1999-2000
Undergraduate physics student of the year at Portland State University, 1998-1999
Lab Outcomes Assessment (poster) for Oregon AAPT meeting
Distance-Learning Labs for Introductory Physics (invited talk) for the Partnership for Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics virtual conference , June 2020
Review of Designing Laboratories for Online Instruction using the iOLab Device for The Physics Teacher, February 2020
Adapting RealTime Physics for Distance Learning with the IOLab (paper with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom), August 2019 issue of The Physics Teacher
Technology for Active Learning of Mechanics: IOLab vs. Vernier and PASCO (contributed talk with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom) presented to joint meeting of Pacific Northwest Association of Physics Teachers and Oregon Chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers, March 2019
Research validated distance learning labs for introductory physics using IOLab (paper with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom), 2018 edition of The Role of Laboratory Work in Improving Physics
Research-Validated Distance-Learning Labs for Introductory Physics Using IOLab (invited poster with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom) presented to American Association of Physics Teachers national meeting, July 2017
Research-Validated Distance-Learning Labs for Introductory Physics Using IOLab (invited talk with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom) presented to Oregon State University Department of Physics, April 2017
Research-Validated Distance-Learning Labs for Introductory Physics Using IOLab (contributed talk with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom) presented to American Association of Physics Teachers national meeting, July 2016
Research-Validated Distance-Learning Labs for Introductory Physics Using IOLab (contributed talk with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom) presented to Oregon Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, March 2016
Research-Validated Distance-Learning Labs for Introductory Physics Using IOLab (contributed talk with David Sokoloff and Erik Bodegom) presented to the Instructional Technology Council's conference eLearn 2016, February 2016
Force Concept Inventory for a Fully Online Physics Class (contributed talk) presented to the Oregon Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, March 2013
Force Concept Inventory for a Fully Online Physics Class (poster) at American Association of Physics Teachers national meeting, January 2013
Physics with Online Labs (invited talk) at American Association of Physics Teachers national meeting, July 2011
Online Physics Recruitment, Retention, and Success (contributed talk) presented to the Oregon Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, March 2009
Online Physics (invited talk) presented to the Open University affiliated Physics Innovation Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, January 2008
American Association of Physics Teachers
Oregon Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers
Computer: Blackboard, Canvas, spreadsheets, MyOpenMath
Languages: American English, intermediate German, basic Spanish, basic Russian
Sports: tennis, running, soccer, and weightlifting
Assistant soccer coach for All Nations Soccer, 2025-present
Music performance at Capital Manor Memory Care and Meadow Creek Assisted Living, 2024-present
Donor to Chemeketa Foundation (Patron's Circle) for Chemeketa Athletics and Montez Bailey Scholarship, 2004-present
Head youth basketball coach at Salem YMCA, 2006-2007, 2009-2015, 2023-present
CFC Atletico (Salem U23 Soccer) board member, 2021-2024
Head youth basketball coach at Skyball, 2019-2020
Assistant soccer coach for Keizer Soccer Club, 2008, 2010-2011
Physical education after school program at Grant Elementary, 2006-2010
Child care at Salem YMCA, 2005-2006