Experience Summary
In 2000, I had my first experience in teaching when I mentored and guided the independent research project of an undergraduate in the research laboratory I was working in at the University of Illinois. The following year, while working as the lab manager and technician for a veterinary oncology research at UIUC, I mentored the summer research projects of two undergraduates and a first-year veterinary student. While at the University of Miami, I was a teaching assistant for the undergraduate Marine Science course, and tutored high school students as a local marine science school. Since arriving at FAU, I have taught Anatomy and Physiology laboratories at Florida Atlantic University for five semesters, and this year (2008) began teaching a lecture and two laboratories in the Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology at Palm Beach Atlantic University as an Adjunct Professor. I gained more experience working with younger students last year while teaching eighth grade math and science at Zion Lutheran Christian School.
Teaching Style
I believe in addressing multiple learning styles to integrate a student's thinking on a particular subject. I began by having a student read about a subject in advance. I then verbally summarize the key points the student should have learning in reading the material, and follow this by demonstrating (where possible) how the subject actually works (e.g., demonstrating how to perform a reaction). I follow this up by having the student demonstrate the skill or material to me, concluding with the student verbally summarizing what s/he has learned. By integrating these learning pathways (seeing, hearing, doing), I find that students both learn and retain material more effectively.
| Type |
Level |
Year |
Title |
Issued by |
| Degree |
B.A. |
1990 |
Interpersonal Communications |
Wheaton College |
| Degree |
B.S. |
2001 |
Animal Science |
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign |
| Degree |
M.S. |
2006 |
Marine Affairs & Policy/Marine Biology |
RSMAS, University of Miami |
| Degree |
Ph.D. |
2010 |
Integrative Biology |
Florida Atlantic University |
| Other |
2500.00 |
2008 |
Diversity Fellowship |
Florida Atlantic University |
| Other |
First Place |
2006 |
Graduate Student Poster Award |
SEAMAMMS Conference |
| Degree |
Second Place |
2005 |
Graduate Student Poster Award in Biology |
UM Citizens Board Creativity and Research Forum |