Being an effective and inspiring educator
is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
I believe that inspiring others to care about nature is one of the most important things we can do in today's society. When I teach, I strive to not only convey information, but to also encourage critical thinking. One way I do this is by helping students identify their passions (even if ecology isn't one of them) and relating conservation to those interests.
Teaching Awards & Certificates
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, University of California, Berkeley
Instructors considered campus-wide; nominated by undergraduates
Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley
Completed 8 pedagogy courses + teaching portfolio + lecture & discussion classroom observation & feedback
Teaching Innovation Fellow/Certificate in Remote Instruction, University of California, Berkeley
Completed 8-week course over the summer in best practices for online teaching & learning + redesigned activities for Zoom
Certificate in Teaching Conservation Science, Network of Conservation Educators/American Museum of Natural History
2-day workshop on best practices in conservation pedagogy; case study and activity development
Instructors considered campus-wide; nominated by undergraduates
Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley
Completed 8 pedagogy courses + teaching portfolio + lecture & discussion classroom observation & feedback
Teaching Innovation Fellow/Certificate in Remote Instruction, University of California, Berkeley
Completed 8-week course over the summer in best practices for online teaching & learning + redesigned activities for Zoom
Certificate in Teaching Conservation Science, Network of Conservation Educators/American Museum of Natural History
2-day workshop on best practices in conservation pedagogy; case study and activity development
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International Field Courses
Instructor of Record | 2019
JAN186: Web of Life on the Island of the Gods Bali, Indonesia Saint Mary's College of California -Developed & taught the ecology/conservation curriculum of an interdisciplinary science + culture winter term course Co-Instructor | 2017 BIO7402: Tropical Ecology & Conservation Ecuador, multiple field sites Texas State University/Third Millennium Alliance -6-week course; Advised undergrads in field project ideas and implementation, lead scientific paper discussions Instructor of Record | 2013, 2014 WRIT 1430: Science, Observation, & Impact in the Galápagos Full semester of coursework on campus + 2-week field course in Galápagos mid-term (during spring break) Cornell University -Designed and taught an interdisciplinary freshman seminar focused on the conservation, history, and evolutionary biology of the Galápagos via writing. Secured funding from various sources to pay all field course expenses (including plane tickets) for students, who were all from underrepresented backgrounds. This course was recently added permanently to the university roster as part of a unique curriculum (Evolutionary Biology + Writing Seminar with the same small group of students) that I helped design with Prof. Irby Lovette. 
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Classroom Courses
Head Graduate Student Instructor | Fall 2020
ESPM 106: Wildlife Management & Policy in the 21st Century University of California, Berkeley (Fully Remote) -Independently led two discussion sections per week (of my own design); guest-lectured; migrated content to an online format; developed a course Twitter where students posted news related to wildlife conservation and management Head Graduate Student Instructor | Summer 2020 ESPM 50AC: Cultural & Natural Resource Management University of California, Berkeley (Fully Remote) -Independently led three 3-hour discussion sections per week (accelerated curriculum for summer); managed 6 other graduate student instructors for a 400+ person online course; lectured; helped students develop final projects Head Graduate Student Instructor | Fall 2018 ESPM 277: Advanced Topics in Conservation Biology University of California, Berkeley -Co-lectured with Prof. Claire Kremen in a 3-hour lecture-seminar each week for advanced undergraduate students Graduate Student Instructor | Fall 2018 ESPM 161: Environmental Ethics & Philosophy University of California, Berkeley -Independently designed and led 2 discussion sections per week; guest-lectured Middle School Outreach | Fall 2017-Present Schools throughout the Bay Area & Illinois -Give guest lectures about ecology, conservation, and STEM career paths to middle-schoolers around Berkeley and the Chicagoland area (where I'm from originally). |