Academic Teaching & Mentoring

Instructor, Environmental Issues & Public Policy, Fall 2012, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

· Co-taught with an environmental economist current environmental issues and how to use the coupled human and natural systems framework to develop policies for solving them (Zoology 446)

· Provided lectures and active learning exercises to encourage student understanding of key disciplines (ecology, sociology, economics, and policy) that are involved with solving environmental issues

· Instructed upper-level undergraduates (n = 32) on how to develop effective proposals, presentations, and collaborations to work in a group setting to recommend a policy to help solve the environmental issue of their choice

· Example results (means) from student course evaluations (1= superior, 2 = above average):

o Instructor's use of examples or personal experiences to help get points across in class = 1.4

o Instructor's enthusiasm when presenting course material = 1.6

o Student’s general enjoyment of the course = 2.0

Guest Lecturer, Louisiana State University, Nicholls State University and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium

· Applications of Coastal Plant Ecology, for Dr. Tracy Quirk (LSU, Spring 2021)

· Career Advice, for Coast and Environment Graduate Organization (LSU, Spring 2019)

· Applied Research, for Dr. Jonathan Willis. (NSU, Spring 2019)

· Applied Coastal Plant Ecology, for Dr. Tracy Quirk (LSU, Fall 2018, Spring 2021)

· Harmful Algal Blooms in Coastal Louisiana, for Dr. Sibel Bargu (LSU, Fall 2014)

· Hypoxia, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Brian Fry (LSU, Spring 2011)

· Coasts, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Brian Fry (LSU, Spring 2011)

· Careers in Marine Science, for Southeastern University, Hammond, LA (Fall 2009)

· Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia, for America's Wetland Conservation Corps seminar series (LSU, Spring 2009)

· Plankton, Algae and Plants, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Brian Fry (LSU, Spring 2008)

· Life in the Ocean, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Brian Fry (LSU, Spring 2008)

· Hypoxia, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Paul LaRock (x 2, LSU, Spring 2008)

· Hypoxia and Benthos, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Robert Carney (LSU, Fall 2007)

· Inverts in the Bay of Fundy, Marine Invertebrate Ecology, for Dr. Nazan Atilla (LUMCON, Summer 2007)

· Hypoxia, Introduction to Oceanography, for Dr. Brian Fry (LSU, Spring 2006, 2007, 2008)

Ph.D. Minor in Science Education, 2006-2011, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA

Advisor: James Wandersee, Dept. Educational Theory, Policy, & Practice, LSU

· Courses taken: (1) Teaching in the Science Laboratory (2) Independent research project on assessment tools (3) College Teaching and Learning (4) Teaching the History of Science (5) Supervised Teaching

· Gained knowledge on research-supported science education teaching methods, collected ideas to promote active learning, and incorporated and tested innovative teaching techniques

Teaching Assistant, Marine Field Geology, May 2006, LUMCON, Cocodrie, LA

Course Instructor: Samuel J. Bentley, Dept. Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, LSU

· Assisted the instructor in the development, organization, and execution of the field course

· Developed innovative assessment tools to test upper-level undergraduate geological knowledge which was published in Journal of College Science Teaching

· Created a 15-page laboratory and field exercise manual

· Independently instructed laboratory exercises

· Designed student field notebooks to foster learning on field trips

Co-coordinator for LSU Chapter of EnvironMentors, July 2010 – August 2011, LSU

· Developed and launched the inaugural NSF/NCSE and Louisiana Sea Grant funded university-mentoring program to increase community outreach

· Organized and created weekly 2 hour science-workshops for underrepresented high school students

· Recruited graduate students, faculty and staff to volunteer as a mentor for high school students

· Led workshops on the steps of the scientific method to help execute science fair projects

· Planned and co-hosted six successful Spring 2011 events: LSU EnvironMentors Science Fair, LSU EnvironMentors Poster Session and 4 fieldtrips (including one overnight trip)

· Traveled and co-led high school students, teachers and scientists (n = 10) to Washington DC to participate in the National EnvironMentors Science Fair

Mentor for LSU Chapter of EnvironMentors, August 2010 – May 2011, LSU

· Met weekly with an underrepresented high school student to help brainstorm, plan, develop and carry out a science fair project

· Provided advice on college preparation and success

· Helped student understand and apply the steps of the scientific method to develop a research project and communicate results in a poster and paper

· Mentee won 1st place at LSU EnvironMentors Science Fair and 1st place at Washington DC National EnvironMentors Science Fair for successful communication and application of the scientific method

Mentor for various interns, 2006 to current

· ·LSU Coastal Environmental Science Intern, J. Thompson, 2020. Taught skills on literature review, data summary, and plotting results. Co-advised development of first scientific poster.

· St. Joseph’s Academy high school student, C. Rollins, 2019-2020. Assisted in developing a science fair project by evaluating bottom-water dissolved oxygen concentrations in the coastal estuaries.

· LASAL intern, LSU undergraduate, M. Guidry, 2019. Helped to develop a scientific poster, science communication (#MississippiMonday), and annotated bibliography

· LUMCON, Cocodrie, LA , June – August of 2006 and 2007. Advised and assisted undergraduate students on independent research project, taught coastal ecological concepts and oceanographic instrumentation deployment, and directed students on creating effective scientific posters and oral presentations from data collected in the field.