Teaching Experience

I believe teaching is an integral part of becoming a researcher. Whether it is through formal lectures and labs, field experiences, or conversations over coffee, sharing ones passion for asking questions about the natural world is essential in helping inform individuals and create future scientists. Fostering ability for students to think critically, develop thought provoking questions and hypotheses, and become efficient problem solvers are what drive me to teach, whether in the classroom, via outreach, or through mentoring.

Research Experience

I always take advantage of bringing science novices, science enthusiasts and volunteers into the field with me. It is a great way to get the word out about the benefits of bats and other cryptic species, how to minimize the spread of disease (i.e., bat white-nose syndrome, salamander chytrid fungus, or rana virus), and how to help improve the conservation of wildlife in an ever changing world. If anything, bringing science novices to the field allows them to become engaged in scientific research.

Large photo: Helping a budding scientist (Facebook handle: Batsquad Alexis Batgirl) set up a bat detector in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Top left: Taking students to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to meet with Park Biologists in the field. Bottom left: Teaching a new bat technician how to mark a bat with a forearm band (this was prior to the creation of banding pliers).

University Teaching Experience

Check out my Teaching Portfolio for more information regarding my teaching experience

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Adjunct Lecturer, Fall 2015
- BIO 260: Ecology Lecture; 95 student
- BIO 269: Ecology Lab
Teacher's Assistant, Fall 2011 - Spring 2015
- BIO 250: Ecology Lab
- EEB/PSY 450: Comparative Animal Behavior
- BIO 130: Biodiversity

Guest Lectures

Using Decision Science to Solve Conservation Management Problems, UGA, Spring 2019 & Spring 2021
White-nose syndrome in Tennessee, UTK Wildlife Disease Club, Fall 2016
White-nose syndrome and the zoonotic disease of bats, WFS/CEM 530, Fall 2016
Bats of Tennessee, Ijams Nature Center Hummingbird Festival, Summer 2016
Conservation and monitoring of bats, WFS 444, Spring 2016
Bats!, Nova: Science Cafe, Fall 2014 & 2015
Biology, behavior, and benefits of bats, WFS 444, Spring 2013 & 2014
Trophic cascades and food webs, BIO 250, Spring 2013
Parasitism and disease, BIO 250, Fall 2012
Animal Communication, EEB/PSY 450, Spring 2012

Child Educational Camps and Outreach:

UTK Kids Halloween Stroll

2016

Distance Learning (live video lectures)

Boy scout troop: 2019
Skype a Scientist: 2018 - 2019 (Photo bottom left)
Elementary school biology class: 2016

Knoxville Zoo: Boo at the Zoo

2011 - 2015

KidsU Summer Course

Vertebrate Zoology, Summer 2012 - 2014

Community Education Programs:

North American Society for Bat Research Teacher Workshop (continuing education program)

2017

Public Television

Tennessee Wildside: Banding Bellamy's bats, 2015
Heartland Series: Second Nature, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildflower Pilgrimage

2012 - 2016

East Tennessee Public Schools

2011 - 2016

Silver Falls Library, Silverton, Oregon (pictured below right)

2011

Skype a Scientist video chat with an elementary school class in the Midwest!

Outreach event at the Silverton Library (Silverton, Oregon)

Google Sites

Report abuse