Teaching

Background and Philosophy

My teaching philosophy emphasizes reinforcing key concepts and processes by actively engaging my students in their learning through hands-on, interdisciplinary experiences in the classroom, lab, and outdoors. I seek to inspire my students to care and be curious about the natural world around them and to be creative and credible with their work. I can adapt my teaching on-the-fly for students with a variety of learning styles, as well as for students from a variety of different backgrounds. I always strive for safety, as well as mutual respect, teamwork, engagement, and accessibility.

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Faculty, Valencia College (2023-2024). Courses taught: Earth Science (x2).

Middle School Science Teacher, Florida (2021-2024). Courses taught: Biology (x3), Earth-Space Science (x2), Life Science.

Science Instructor, Science from Scientists, Minnesota (2021). Taught multiple lessons based on Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota (2016-2021). Courses taught: Microbes to Mammoths (x3), Dinosaurs and Our World (x3), Earth History (x3), Introductory Field Geology (x2), Earth and its Environments, Geology and Cinema

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2015-2016). Courses taught: Physical Geology (x3)

Guest Lectures

Archosaur Origins, Triassic Pseudosuchians, Crocodylomorpha. Guest lecture for Fossil Reptiles, University of Minnesota (2021)

Alligators, Paleoecology, Paleoclimate. Guest lecture for Herpetology, Saint Cloud State University (2020)

Archosaur Origins, Triassic Faunal Turnover, Crurotarsi. Guest lecture for Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Minnesota (2019)

Nebraska Vertebrate Paleontology. Guest lecture for Physical Geology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2015)