Teaching

At Davidson College, I teach introductory biology (BIO 114, with lab) and Comparative Neuroendocrinology (BIO 240, new spring ‘24).

I am a broadly trained scientist bridging neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, animal behavior, organismal biology, and evolutionary genomics. As an educator, I am committed to learning and implementing evidence-based, inclusive pedagogical approaches both in the classroom and as a mentor. My major goals are to:

  1. Engage students in the process of scientific inquiry with real-world scenarios;

  2. Help students to build a strong conceptual foundation & develop effective learning skills;

  3. Facilitate discourse into the historical, philosophical, and ethical foundations of science, as a means of understanding current issues in biology and neuroscience; and

  4. Cultivate a classroom environment in which all my students thrive.

I benefited greatly from the rigorous liberal arts education that I received as an undergraduate and believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of effective teaching to nurture students’ curiosity and learning. Through my diverse teaching experiences and pedagogical training, I have developed the skills to ensure my classroom is welcoming and accessible for all students, regardless of their background.

“It was an amazing course. I learned a lot about the brain and genetics and the discussions were very interactive.” —Student Course Evaluation, Myths & Mechanisms, Cornell University

“The labs are A LOT of fun- I think this was the only science lab that I actually looked forward to going to week after week.” - Student reflection, Biopsychology, Franklin & Marshall College

”You teach in an incredibly accessible manner that acknowledges the sensitive and timely nature of the subject matter. As someone that wants to be a psychiatrist, you’ve given me the tools to talk about neurobiology and hormones/trans rights/gender-affirming care in an educated and well-rounded manner. That’s incredibly powerful and I cannot describe to you how meaningful that is to me.” —Student email, Biopsychology; Hormones & Behavior, Franklin & Marshall College