TEACHING
And then, that moment happens. There is no set time, but in that moment, you realize your students connected your class into their lives. It is these moments that drive me, as I believe the classroom – both in-person and online – is a place to be inspired, to interact, and to engage in thoughtful and insightful conversations about the history, the current state, and the future of higher education. I foster this learning environment through the creation of experiences that connect the course content with students’ personal and professional experiences, and techniques that engage the adult learner that address the importance of service, social awareness, and reflective learning opportunities in topics related to P-20 education systems.
I have been fortunate to teach in the higher education environment since 2014. My teaching expertise includes coursework related to organization accountability and leadership, higher education, and research methods. I enjoy teaching through various modalities, including in-person and both synchronous and asynchronous online formats.
The goal of my teaching is to create a supportive environment for student learning through critical thought, active engagement, and the student experience - building on previous experiences and creating connections to form new experiences that incorporate course content. Through my ongoing reflection, I look to build on my current teaching experience and further develop my teaching skills to further foster the opportunity to guide impactful learning experiences for my students.
Currently, at St. John’s University, I have focused on the following courses:
Advanced Qualitative Methods (EDU 7902): This course will expand student expertise in the paradigms and strategies used when conducting ethnographic and other narrative forms of research. Students will design and implement field-based projects, apply reflective analytic techniques, and communicate findings using various approaches. Students will also develop familiarity with the software used for qualitative data analysis as applied to narrative text, artifacts, and media.
Data Management and Accountability in Higher Education (EDU 5555): This course examines the various systems that are used to track and analyze data for the various functions within institutions of higher education. These include student, faculty, institutional, and financial reporting systems. A special emphasis is on reporting for purposes of federal, state, and accreditation agency accountability.
Faculty-Student Relations and Pedagogical Models in Higher Education (EDU 5558): This course provides a comprehensive overview of pedagogical approaches utilized within the American postsecondary environment, including constructivist, reflective, and inquiry-based approaches. Topics will also include but are not limited to, the psychological and developmental instructional needs of the contemporary college student, as well as the various economic and sociocultural factors contributing to curricular initiatives within the higher education setting. Additionally, this course will provide current trends related to the postsecondary faculty member, including the role of evaluation, recruitment, tenure, and leadership management.
Leadership in Instructional Technology I (EDU 7665): This course develops leadership abilities at the school building and school district levels to understand the administrative and instructional uses of technology; validate improvements in curriculum development and instructional practices through the integration of technology; to make decisions about future hardware and software enhancement, consistent with the National Technology Standards, as they pertain to classroom, school, and district goals for students, including students with diverse learning needs; and to make decisions about future technology for professional development at all levels.
Leadership in Technology II (EDU 7669): This course focuses on using technology to make data driven decisions for effective school leadership. It explores the role of data in making effective instructional, financial, and administrative decisions in schools. Development and application of data-management and data-driven decision making processes are emphasized. Current research on technology in educational settings is critically examined.
Psychology & Development of Students in Higher Education (EDU 5556): This course looks at trends and research on student-related topics within the higher education environment. This course will focus on significant events and associated structures that have influenced the student-college experience, both present and past. Additionally, this course will pay attention to the specific needs and characteristics of various student groups and student-associated behavior.
Recruitment, Retention, and Academic Advisement in Higher Education (EDU 5557): This course provides a comprehensive overview of the foundations of academic advising, including its history, philosophical and theoretical perspectives, and delivery models, as well as the application and influence of academic advising strategies and practices in modern colleges and universities. In addition, an overview of historical and current recruitment and retention theories and practices, and their relationship to academic advising, will be explored.