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ABOUT ME
As a graduate student, I had the privilege to be the teaching assistant (TA) for an Undergraduate Biology laboratory course at Boise State University for 3 years under the mentorship of the lab coordinator, Dr. Amy Ulappa — an educator whose mentorship I deeply value, and who had once been one of my most impactful professors during my own undergraduate journey at Boise State.
My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education thrives in spaces where inclusion, curiosity, and mutual respect are prioritized. I strive to cultivate a classroom culture where students feel empowered to think critically, explore connections beyond the textbook, and express their individual perspectives. Just as I brought my full humanity into the classroom, I invited my students to do the same.
As both an educator and a fellow learner, I worked to establish genuine rapport with my students—seeing each of them not simply as learners, but as whole individuals with unique values, lived experiences, and insights worth honoring. I took pride in being a safe, approachable presence: someone they could trust not only with their academic questions, but sometimes with the broader challenges they carried into the classroom. I believe education is not separate from the human experience—it is a part of it. And when we teach with compassion, we make space for both learning and healing to take place.
PURPOSE
I believe in transparency and continual growth as an educator. By sharing my student feedback, I hope to offer insight into how I teach, what students take away from my courses, and how I’ve evolved based on their input. I have always taken student feedback to heart, using it not only as a reflection of my teaching, but as a catalyst for growth. Each term, I made a deliberate effort to evolve—to better meet my students where they were and to foster an environment that was intellectually rigorous, yet grounded in empathy and respect. I’ve included both quantitative scores and written feedback to provide a fuller picture of my teaching approach and effectiveness. This site is intended for colleagues, hiring committees, or anyone interested in my teaching impact.
In the interest of full disclosure, I did not design this course or the materials.
COURSE INFORMATION
Course: BIOL 192 BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE (3-3-4)(F,S). Organismal biology in an evolutionary context, including biodiversity, structure and function, reproduction, physiology, and morphology of viruses, prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.
Course Overview: "Our lives depend on the complex web of life around us. From bacteria to balsamroot to bees to bears, all organisms are connected, and their interactions influence our lives. In this class, we will survey the fascinating diversity of life through a framework of evolution. Our goal is to give you a foundation of scientific language and problem-solving skills you will use in upper-division courses and life."
Course Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students should be able to:
● Identify organisms and classify them within major taxonomic groups
● Compare and contrast the form and function, and ecological roles of prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals
● Interpret phylogenetic trees and explain the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms
● Apply biological principles and critical thinking to assess and solve biologically-based questions.
● Discuss the ecological and evolutionary processes that have led to the diversity of life on earth.
LINKS TO STUDENT FEEDBACK
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