Experience Summary
I began my career as a high school teacher teaching grades 9-12. My engagement with students at this level was highly satisfying; I loved teaching this age group speech and drama courses. After that I spent several years in a FT professional touring performance ensemble that performed for all ages in a variety of settings across the Midwest. Finally, for the last 15 years, I have taught a variety of college level communication and performance courses, as well as various writing classes. I help students become competent oral and written communicators. The expressive arts (e.g.,theatre and performance studies) is also a specialty. I work one-on-one with most of my students.
Teaching Style
I love the give and take of interaction with students. My approach is learner-centered, which means that I see each student as an individual and strive to tailor our instructional exchange to meet the needs of each person. I believe that teaching is dialogic; it is through dialogue that instructors and students together engage in the exploration process that leads to learning. I do not ascribe to the "open head, pour in facts" approach to teaching. Rather, I seek to facilitate problem solving, critical thinking, data gathering, and logical analysis that extends the student's knowledge, but more importantly teaches them to learn how to learn.