Teaching

My goal as an educator is to actively engage students in the learning process, encourage intellectual independence, and develop effective scientific communication skills. Whether in the classroom or the laboratory, I hope to engender an intimate appreciation for the field and to inspire others through my own deep passion for science.

  • In introductory organic chemistry, it is essential to emphasize the applicability of our field’s problem-solving approach for a broad range of real world experience, as the majority of students will be pursuing a variety of careers beyond chemistry. This will be achieved by laying a foundation of fundamental concepts such as molecular structure and basic reactivity, and contextualizing these abstract physical concepts within disparate fields such as medicine, technology, and the environment. To facilitate student engagement in larger lecture courses, I will work closely with teaching assistants to design interactive recitation sections.
  • In advanced undergraduate/graduate courses, the curriculum will focus on bringing students up to date with the modern frontiers of methodology, reactivity, and mechanism, by incorporating recent literature and discussing active areas of research to illuminate challenges that remain in the field. To further foster the development of independent problem-solving skills, students will be challenged to formulate hypotheses and propose experiments to test them. Regular presentations will enable students to gain practice in scientific communication and critical reading of the scientific literature.

Teaching Experience

Organotransition Metal Chemistry (CHEM 538), Head Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Organic Chemistry for Majors Laboratory (CHEM 237), Head Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 211 & 212), Teaching Assistant, Albion College
General Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 121), Teaching Assistant, Albion College
Peer Tutor, Chemistry, for the Quantitative Skills Center, Albion College