As a teacher, my goal is that students in my classes are able to communicate biological concepts soundly to both scientific and public audiences, and achieve a proficiency in key skills necessary to enter a variety of biological fields. At a time when we have so many important scientific issues often going miscommunicated (e.g., vaccines, climate change, genetic engineering), the ability to communicate and interpret scientific information can benefit students regardless of the career they choose after college. To realize this goal, I focus on curriculum development and learning activities tailored to both large and small classes, including labs and writing intensive courses. These approaches balance the duel needs of preparing students for a career as a professional biologist, while making class more interactive and engaging.

I recently (2022) completed the year-long Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Certificate in Effective Instruction. This course helped me to re-evaluate my strategies in the classroom. Throughout the past year I have been implementing a variety of changes in my courses to increase engagement and student learning, and I look forward to continuing the journey of improving my instruction.