Teaching and Mentoring Philosophy (in brief)
Teaching:
My overarching goal as an educator is for my students and mentees to become strong scientific thinkers that approach new concepts and ideas with curiosity, creativity, and an open mind. To achieve this goal, I create space for students to think critically and independently, I embrace diverse styles of learning to impress upon all students that they belong and, I meet my students where they are and get them where they need and want to be.
Mentoring:
One of the aspects I value most about my role in academia is mentoring students in research. I strive to create a mentoring environment where mentees feel safe to ask questions, discover what interests and motivates them, and develop excitement and curiosity for scientific research. Inspired by how much I enjoy mentoring, I collaborated with a team of social scientists to conduct a study on mentoring dynamics in ecology. We learned that when inclusive environments are created students feel their mentoring relationships are more successful, and they feel more compelled to persist in ecology (Stuchiner et al. 2022). Bolstered by this empirical evidence, I feel committed to apply what I learned about mentoring to my current and future mentoring relationships. Academia is built on the apprentice model, but my research also shows that mentees who move onto diverse careers find value in being able to have mentors as resources and guides. Thus, it is my responsibility to serve as a role model for my mentees for whatever path they should choose.
My overarching goal as an educator is for my students and mentees to become strong scientific thinkers that approach new concepts and ideas with curiosity, creativity, and an open mind. To achieve this goal, I create space for students to think critically and independently, I embrace diverse styles of learning to impress upon all students that they belong and, I meet my students where they are and get them where they need and want to be.
Mentoring:
One of the aspects I value most about my role in academia is mentoring students in research. I strive to create a mentoring environment where mentees feel safe to ask questions, discover what interests and motivates them, and develop excitement and curiosity for scientific research. Inspired by how much I enjoy mentoring, I collaborated with a team of social scientists to conduct a study on mentoring dynamics in ecology. We learned that when inclusive environments are created students feel their mentoring relationships are more successful, and they feel more compelled to persist in ecology (Stuchiner et al. 2022). Bolstered by this empirical evidence, I feel committed to apply what I learned about mentoring to my current and future mentoring relationships. Academia is built on the apprentice model, but my research also shows that mentees who move onto diverse careers find value in being able to have mentors as resources and guides. Thus, it is my responsibility to serve as a role model for my mentees for whatever path they should choose.
Courses I have taught:
2024: Principles of Ecosystem Ecology (ECOL 610) ~ Guest Lecturer, 20 students, Colorado State University (CSU)
2022: Ecosystem Biogeochemistry (NRES 512) ~ Guest Lecturer, 20 students, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
2022: Ecosystem Ecology (NRES 462) ~ Guest Lecturer, 65 students, UIUC
2020: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (JEDI) in Ecology (ECOL 592) ~ Course Co-Instructor, 10 students, CSU
2019: Principles of Ecosystem Ecology (ECOL 610) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 30 students, CSU
2018 – 2020: Global Environmental Sustainability (GES 101) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 100 students, CSU
2018 – 2019: Summer Soil Institute, Guest Lecturer, 40 students, Colorado State University
2017 – 2018: Plant Ecology (BZ 450) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 15 students, CSU
2017: Exchange of N2O between soils and the atmosphere: patterns, processes, and analytical tools (ECOL 592) ~ Course Co-Instructor, 9 students, CSU
2016 – 2017: Principles of Plant Biology (BZ 120) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 20 students, CSU
2022: Ecosystem Biogeochemistry (NRES 512) ~ Guest Lecturer, 20 students, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
2022: Ecosystem Ecology (NRES 462) ~ Guest Lecturer, 65 students, UIUC
2020: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (JEDI) in Ecology (ECOL 592) ~ Course Co-Instructor, 10 students, CSU
2019: Principles of Ecosystem Ecology (ECOL 610) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 30 students, CSU
2018 – 2020: Global Environmental Sustainability (GES 101) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 100 students, CSU
2018 – 2019: Summer Soil Institute, Guest Lecturer, 40 students, Colorado State University
2017 – 2018: Plant Ecology (BZ 450) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 15 students, CSU
2017: Exchange of N2O between soils and the atmosphere: patterns, processes, and analytical tools (ECOL 592) ~ Course Co-Instructor, 9 students, CSU
2016 – 2017: Principles of Plant Biology (BZ 120) ~ Graduate Teaching Assistant, 20 students, CSU
