“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” 
​― Benjamin Franklin

Education

My teaching philosophy revolves around empowering students to be active agents in their learning experiences. In the classroom I aim to achieve this incorporating individual and small group work, student reflections, and research projects among other strategies. 

Training
  • Graduate Teaching Certificate (2019), Center for Research in Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan (more information)
  • Diversity and Inclusive Teaching Seminar (2018), Center for Research in Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan (more information)
  • Engaged Pedagogy Initiative Fellow,  Community Engaged Academic Learning, University of Michigan (more information)
  • Institute for Social Change (2019), Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan (more information)
  • Scientist Teaching Science (2020), STEM Education Solutions (more information)
  • Online Teaching Certificate (2020), Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Stony Brook University (more information)

Experience
  • 2022-2023 Instructor: Honors Nutrition, Agriculture and Justice in the Food System, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL 
  • 2023 (Spring) Instructor: Honors Genetics, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL 
  • 2022 (Summer) Instructor: Honors Seminar Primate Conservation, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL ​
  • 2021 Instructor: General Biology I, SUNY College at Old Wesbury, Old Wesbury, NY
  • 2020 Co-Instructor: General Biology I, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
  • 2019 Instructor: Science, Agriculture, and Social Justice (Community-Based Learning Course), LSA Residential College, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 2018 Graduate Teacher Certificate, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 2017 Graduate Student Instructor: Energy, Food and Environmental Justice (for non-majors), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 
  • 2017 Engaged Pedagogy Initiative Fellow, Community-Engaged Academic Learning, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 2015 Graduate Collections Assistant: Mammal Collection, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 2011 to 2013 Graduate Student Instructor: Introductory Biology Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI​

Outreach

FARMWORKER ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA (FWAF)
The Farmworker Association of Florida’s long-standing mission is to build power among farmworker and rural low-income communities, to respond to and gain control over the social, political, economic, workplace, health, and environmental justice issues that impact their lives. (https://floridafarmworkers.org/)

Through a class project students in the seminar course in Nutrition, Agriculture, and Justice work in collaboration with the FWAF to help document and communicate the organizations current needs and efforts as well as their impact in the farmworker community of Florida. 

Please consider making a donation to support their work HERE
NEW YORK 
  1. Virtual Maker Spotlight at the Long Island Explorium
  2. Long Island Science and Engineering Fair Judge 
MICHIGAN 
 Females Excelling in More in Math, Engineering and Science (FEMMES)

 "FEMMES programs encourage girls to learn and explore their potential in science, technology, math and engineering (STEM). Our goal is to promote involvement in STEM by building curiosity and increasing confidence in girls' academic skills so they may pursue their dreams without hesitation." (UM-FEMMES)

As part of this organization I have helped in recruitment of students to participate in our semesters capstone programs and after school activities. Along with other graduate students we have develop hands-on science activities about ecology for middle school students. (link)
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BioBlitz Science Education Outreach

Since 2011 myself along with other University of Michigan students have coordinated the UM annual BioBlitz. It is an science education outreach event with K-12 students from the city of Detroit. It has been conducted in collaboration with the Detroit Black Food Security Network, and Western International High School. 

News posts: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017
Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability (SEEDS) from the Ecological Society of America

"The core SEEDS program components offer hands-on, engaging experiences with ecology that exhibit the relevance and applications of the science. Each experience also provides opportunities to interact with a diverse group of ecologists and other motivated students to both broaden and deepen students’ understanding of ecology and potential careers." (SEEDS)

I was part of the SEEDS program as an undergraduate student and continue to participate as a graduate student mentor. this program has played an important role in my development as a scientist and I am very grateful to be part of the SEEDS family. 

You can donate here. 
Other groups: 
  1. MI DNA Day  Scientist to visit high schools across the state and an active learning lesson on different topics related to DNA and its applications. Visit the website for more information and how to get involved. 
  2. Served as a member of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department Diversity Committee and Graduate affairs Committee at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI