Experience Summary
I have had a broad interdisplinary education and a variety of work experiences related to ecology and wildlife. I have worked directly with animals and conducted complex mathematical simulation models. I have been a teaching assistant at the college level and developed and taught a special topic class for undergraduate and graduate students. I also have several years of experience in informal environmental education at both a nature center and a zoo.
Teaching Style
Teaching science is not about teaching facts. Science is based on theories, which evolve through the process of discovery. Thus, it is important to teach a student not what to think, but how to think. With little formal teaching experience, my philosophy draws on what I have liked in my teachers. First, and foremost, is enthusiasm. A professor who is clearly excited by the subject is more likely to spark excitement in the students. Second, it is important to relate to the students on a more personal level. This needs to occur in both directions. I believe the students need to see me as more than a teacher providing the information, but as a scientist and a person with my own views.