Teaching

At the core of my teaching philosophy is the belief that every student has the capacity to think like a scientist given the right environment and mentorship. Engagement and inclusivity provide the structure for this environment, but it is compassion that makes it truly transformative. As an instructor, I recognize that my students are balancing coursework alongside social lives, families, jobs, and personal challenges, and I want them to know that I see them as more than just students in my class. I strive to be approachable, make the classroom a safe space, and encourage questions both during and after class. I learn students’ names, check in on their well-being, and invite them to share challenges so we can find solutions together, whether through flexibility or support. Such caring interactions foster engagement, and in my experience they also create the trust students need to take intellectual risks, seek help when needed, and persist through challenges.

Ultimately, I want students to leave my classroom with more than the material we covered. I want them to leave curious, confident in their ability to learn, and excited to keep asking questions after the course has ended. One of the most meaningful pieces of feedback I have received came from a student who wrote that it had “been a challenge for [them] to truly enjoy college classes,” but that my course helped them “rediscover [their] love for learning.” They went on to say that they looked forward to coming to class each week and would “carry what [they] learned in this class with [them] throughout the rest of their academic career.” That is the kind of impact I hope to have as a teacher and mentor. A professor once gave me the freedom and encouragement to discover that I was a scientist. My goal is to create the same opportunity for my students, helping them discover not only what they are capable of learning, but also how much they can enjoy the process of finding out.

Read my Full Teaching Philosophy Here

Courses Taught

PSYC 476R – Zoo Biology

Emory University

Semester: Fall 2026

This course provides direct exposure to current issues in zoo research and animal management, including population management, animal welfare, and behavioral research. Through literature discussions and case studies at Zoo Atlanta, students will work with animal curators and care staff to understand zoo operations and career pathways. The course provides practical experience relevant to careers in zoos, research, teaching, and fieldwork.

Download Syllabus

PSYC 4560 – Animal Behavior

Georgia State University

Semester: Fall 2025

Full set of lectures available on YouTube Channel

Did you know that clownfish are hermaphrodites? Or that the arctic tern migrates 12,000 miles? Or, better yet, why do they do these things? Animal behavior is the study of how organisms interact with their social and physical environment and how their cognition and behavior evolved to meet these demands. PSYC 4560 will take an evolutionary approach to behavior, investigating why behaviors evolved (ultimate questions) and how the organism has been shaped to perform these behaviors (proximate questions). We will study a variety of taxon and behaviors, focusing on real-world examples from a wide range of species to illustrate concepts.

Download Syllabus

Course Lectures

PSYC 3140 – Psychopathology and Abnormal Psychology

Georgia State University

Semesters: Spring 2025, 2026

PSYC 3140 examines the defining characteristics, causes, and treatments of abnormal or maladaptive behaviors and psychopathology. This course emphasizes current scientific research and theory underlying abnormal psychology within our sociocultural context.

Download Syllabus

PSYC 3530 – Advanced Research Methods and Statistics Lab

Georgia State University

Semesters: Fall 2024

PSYC 3530 provides psychology majors with experience in research design, data analysis, and scientific

communication needed for higher-level understanding in 4000-level courses, the development and writing of

senior-year theses, graduate study, and some basic skills that might be useful for working in government

institutes and industries. Topics include experimental and quasi-experimental design, statistical techniques for

comparing multiple groups, and the structure and style of scientific writing in psychology.

Download Syllabus

Guest Lectures

PSYC 4560 – Animal Behavior

Georgia State University

"Animals on the Move: Animal Migration, Navigation, and Dispersal"

"Sea Turtle Navigation: Mini Lesson"

Download Lecture

PSYC 4100 – Cognitive Psychology

Georgia State University

"How Human Are They? Methods and Principles of Comparative Cognition"

Download Lecture

PSYC 3530 – Advanced Research Methods and Statistics

Georgia State University

"Comparing Means: The t-test"

Download Lecture

PSYC 3510 – Intro to Research Methods and Statistics

Georgia State University

"Chi-Square Goodness of Fit Test"

Download Lecture

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse