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.
Courses Taught
Colgate University
Wetland Ecology (BIOL 355): elective lecture course focused on ecology and conservation of wetland ecosystems. Newly-developed version of course for Colgate.
Conservation Biology (BIOL 330): elective lecture course that develops students 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 majors) 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 focusing 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.
