What do you find most rewarding about teaching and working with students?

As teachers, we get to watch students as they mature, learn, and grow. And sometimes they even tell us about the ways our classes changed their lives. It's rare to have such clarity in terms of the ways your work affects people. That's why I love teaching.

How do you connect with and engage students in the learning process?

Passion and sense of humor. I love what I teach, and I think that comes through in discussion, and I make sure there are some laughs along the way!

Beyond the classroom, what are some of your interests or hobbies?

I love cooking and baking at home. And I recently got into climbing and bouldering, so that's exciting and sometimes dangerous! I love to be outside, and in the summer I'm often hiking, camping, or otherwise gallivanting around in the wilds.

What do you hope students will take away from your classes or your mentorship?

Maya Angelou is credited with a quote along the lines of, "people will forget what you said, and they'll forget what you did, but they'll remember how you made them feel." I hope students gain a feeling of confidence in my classes, and a sense of fun and joy—I work hard on developing both in the classroom!