Teaching Philosophy and Practice Statement

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

This quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, has resonated with me since my undergraduate years at Franklin & Marshall College, a small PUI in Lancaster, PA. As a student, I was fortunate to learn from inspiring faculty who introduced me to student-centered learning. For example, I learned physical chemistry through POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning), where the instructor acts as a facilitator, and students work in small groups to discover concepts. These experiences shaped my teaching philosophy, which focuses on creating an inclusive, dynamic, and supportive student-centered environment, while simultaneously holding my students to high academic standards. Since starting my teaching career at Texas A&M in 2015, I have embraced this approach by developing personalized learning and innovative pedagogical strategies that prioritize student engagement, active learning, and critical thinking.

Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate

The Bok Center’s Teaching Certificate program provides an opportunity for PhD students to structure their teaching development over time, in community with peers.

ACUE Course in Promoting Active Learning

This badge signifies my completion of an ACUE course requiring the implementation of evidence-based instructional approaches.

Harvard Mini-MBA

The Mini-MBA Program is a five-week accelerated business course designed for non-business students and taught by Professors from the Harvard Business School.

Teaching Awards

AFS College-Level Teaching Award, 2023

This award is designed to honor those teachers who maintain high expectations of their students and who ensure academic rigor in their courses. Distinguished teachers recognize their responsibility in motivating and contributing to the overall development of the student.

Courses Taught

During my 10-year career at Texas A&M, I have taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate chemistry courses, including Advanced Inorganic Laboratory, Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry, Chemistry & Society Writing Seminar, and Symmetry & Group Theory in Chemistry. Additionally, I designed, coordinate, and teach the interdisciplinary course series Contemporary Issues in Science (CISC), which fulfills the Texas CORE Life and Physical Sciences requirement for non-science majors.