TEACHING

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” –W.B. Yeats

Over the years I've been fortunate enough to teach and instruct a wide variety of subjects and activities, ranging from ice climbing to science writing to introductory biology. Teaching and sharing with others is, and always will be, one of my true passions.

I believe that taking an experimental and adaptive approach to teaching often produces the best outcomes. Even the best planned lessons and activities sometimes fall flat with students, making it difficult to keep them engaged. When this occurs, I try to observe components of the lesson that worked and those that failed, enabling me to improve lesson plans for future classes. It is my hope that this process will allow me to continually improve and adapt my teaching and progress as an educator. My goal in the classroom is to create a safe, inclusive environment for students that allows for creative, collaborative, and active exploration of the subject matter. I recognize the value of using multiple teaching approaches including lectures, group work, labs, field classes, case studies, discussions, and hands-on activities to accommodate different learning styles.

Teaching Experience

Assistant Professor, Heritage University, Toppenish, WA, 2015-present

Summer Faculty, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China, Summer 2015

Instructor, Cornell Outdoor Education, February 2012-2014

Taught ice climbing skills, first aid, risk management, leadership, and Leave No Trace Ethics.

Adjunct Faculty Instructor, Truckee Meadows Community College, August 2009-May 2011

Adjunct faculty instructor of Environmental Science 115. Duties included but not limited to: classroom instruction, curriculum design, ANGEL online learning course design and facilitation, conducting multi-day backcountry field trips, and supervision of a teaching assistant.

Tutor/Mentor, A to Z Tutoring, September 2007-May 2011

Tutored and mentored underprivileged Hispanic children in the Reno, NV area
Translated progress reports and facilitated parent-teacher communication for Spanish speaking parents

Head Teaching Assistant, University of Nevada, Reno, August 2008-May 2009

Head teaching assistant for Biology 192-Principles of Biological Investigation (Lecture, Lab, and Scientific Writing)
Assisted course supervisor in leading weekly collaborative meetings with course TA’s to design and improve course content and activities in addition to standard TA duties

Teach Assistant, University of Nevada, Reno, August 2007-May 2008

Teaching assistant for Biology 192-Principles of Biological Investigation
Lectured and facilitated weekly four hour labs; assisted students in conducting field and lab based experiments, taught scientific writing, graded exams and term papers

Teaching Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Partners Program, January 2008- May 2008

Assisted McQueen high school A.P. Biology instructors in curriculum design, lab and activity planning, exam proctoring, and tutoring.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructor, Inlingua, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, November-December 2006

ESL instructor for executives and employees at Peine Group (a large suit manufacturing company). Also instructed students preparing for English proficiency examinations.

ESL Instructor, Universidad Del Mar, Arica, Chile, March 2005-July 2006

Designed courses and curriculum for the Engineering and English Pedagogy departments.
Facilitated online learning program with National American University using WEBCT.

ESL Instructor and Eco Tourism Field Instructor, Corporation for the Development of Arica and Parinacota (CORDAP), Arica, Chile March 2005-July 2006

Taught advanced and conversational English courses. Instructed Adventure/Eco Tourism field courses including basic rock climbing skills, first aid, risk management, leadership, Leave No Trace Ethics, and trekking and camping techniques.
Trained Aymara natives in outdoor and adventure tourism skills

ESL Instructor, Berlitz, Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 2004- March 2005

Taught ESL to adults and children aged 5-65