Teaching Philosophy
Although many people are capable of being casually good instructors, great teachers are purposeful; to that end, I prioritize student learning via attention to detail and inclusion, I use careful instructional design with clear expectations, and I cultivate student skills in scientific inquiry and critical thinking.
I have been teaching for 20 years in roles ranging from high school teacher to national park ranger to college professor. In addition to the courses I teach at Ithaca College, I also occasionally contribute to summer field courses at SUNY ESF's Cranberry Lake Biological Station in the Adirondacks, and at National Audubon Society's Hog Island Audubon Camp in midcoast Maine.
Courses Taught
Ithaca college
Wetland Ecology and Conservation (ENVS 325): elective class and lab course focused on ecology and conservation of wetland ecosystems. Functions as half of ENVS Intensive pair with ENVS 340, Topics in Pollution: Water Quality.
Critical Skills in Environmental Research and Practice (ENVS 292): required majors course focused on developing professional skills such as project management, environmental problem-solving, and the use of productivity software.
Environmental Research and Practice (ENVS 201/301): guided experience in wetland research and management practice. Current students are focused on mapping and monitoring local wetlands, and characterizing wetland forest canopy gap dynamics.
Environmental Crisis: Causes and Solutions (ENVS 110): environmental science survey course (all majors-inclusive) addressing the phenomenon of global change and possible ways forward.
Introductory Environmental Seminar (ENVS 175): first in a three-part seminar series intended for students interested in and planning for environmental careers. Focuses on development of college community, exploration of career pathways, and discussion of planning and goals for the future.
Colgate University
Wetland Ecology (BIOL 355): elective lecture course focused on ecology and conservation of wetland ecosystems. Newly developed version of course.
Conservation Biology (BIOL 330): elective lecture course developing student understanding of biodiversity science, global and local threats to biodiversity, and modern conservation science and practice.
Natural History, Ecology, and Observing the World (CORE S110): liberal arts seminar (all major-inclusive) exploring the nature and process of science through the lenses of natural history and ecology. Newly developed course.
Evolution, Ecology, Diversity (BIOL 181): team-taught lecture and lab introductory course primarily for biology majors. Focused on evolutionary processes, diversification of life, and the interactions among organisms and their environment.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems (EFB 542): elective course focused on ecology and management of inland wetland ecosystems, with a mixture of graduate and undergraduate students.
Ecological Monitoring and Biodiversity Assessment (EFB 202): required field course at ESF's Cranberry Lake Biological Station in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. I taught four day sections of the plant ecology component, which includes field identification and practice with plant community sampling techniques.
Diversity of Life I and II (EFB 210 and 211): required biodiversity survey course, approximately 200 students per semester, and ~20 faculty team-teaching; with lecture and lab components. Instructor and Coordinator.
Ecology of Mosses (EFB 446): elective with lecture and lab components. Teaching Assistant for Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Indigenous Issues and the Environment (EFB 305): elective focusing on environmental problem-solving from a Native American Perspective. Teaching Assistant for Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Hamilton College
Wetland Ecology and Conservation (BIO 226): an intro ecology course set within the framework of wetland systems, with lecture and lab components. Lab used field journals (see photo at right) to develop students' observation, description, and hypothesis-building skills. Newly-developed course.
Utica University
Human Ecology (BIO 111): an ecology course for non-science majors focused on core ecological concepts and human impacts on ecosystems, with lecture and lab components. Newly- developed version of course.
Research Methods in Biology II (BIO 232): a required course for early Biology majors focused on research design and scientific writing.
Climate Change Ecology Senior Seminar (BIO 495): seminar-style capstone course focused on discussion and writing surrounding preprint climate change research.
