Teaching Philosophy

During my undergraduate degree, I had a wide array of professors. Some were engaging, some authoritative, and some valued the content they were teaching more than the students. These experiences have shaped who I am as a teacher. When teaching, I try to encapsulate all of the best aspects of each of these professors. I believe all students can learn the material—as a professor, it is my job to help students find the right path to take towards learning.

I strive to be a multi-faceted educator. All learners deserve a quality education in which they are constantly engaged and encouraged. As an artist, I approach education creatively. My lessons focus on all aspects of culture—art, history, and politics.

When I am working with students, I encourage them to create a sense of community among themselves. Working together verses as an independent instructor and group of students helps create a safe place for ideas to flow. I want students to leave my classroom as well-rounded people who can interact with their peers and colleagues as independent thinkers.

I encourage students to develop inquisitive minds. The ability to problem solve and think critically are learned skills and I believe my classroom should be a space in which students can practice. By guiding students towards interests and encouraging them to explore, I instill a desire to learn within my students. I support students to explore topics that interest and fulfill them within my class. By assigning topics that students are able to individualize to fit their interests, my students remain engaged and find individual satisfaction within my classroom.

Finally, I want my students to leave the classroom as successful adults. I want my classroom to be a safe-space to practice skills like teamwork, independent thinking, and creativity. It is my job to help guide them towards finding out who they are as people, instill a sense of confidence, and encourage the development of skills necessary to be independent in the workplace. My ultimate goal as a professor is that students will leave my classroom with confidence to have and express opinions, the skills to do so in a thoughtful and educated way, and a sense of curiosity to continue learning long past their time in higher education.