I started my higher education at a community college in California. During that time, I learned the importance of fostering a sense of belonging. My role is to help students in the process of building community. This starts with students realizing that we are here for them – I am here for you. Visit my office, talk with me before and after class, tell me about your interests, and reach out if you need me. It is important that you know you are not alone. You share this path with many peers. 

In the classroom, I seek to have a dynamic learning environment capable of adapting to different student needs. This requires that students don’t just build rapport with me but also with each other. This is relatively easy to achieve in practical courses, such as botany lab, which involves multiple opportunities for group work. For theory-focused courses, I have found that connectivity between students is best achieved by using active-learning techniques, such as think-pair-share, flipped classroom, or collaborative activities (e.g. class wiki, blogs). 

I love teaching biology because it sits at the crossroads of many things: theory and practice, nature and society, contemplation and collaboration. It requires an insatiable desire to explore the puzzle of life and how it fits together. As a teacher, I aim to nurture this drive so my students can become lifelong learners, always broadening their horizons and seeking connections in any path they follow. 

     

This semester I will be teaching 2 sections of General Botany (BIO 1A).

Here you can find all the courses (past and present) that I have taught