Teaching
Teaching is integral to my work as a sociologist, and I'm passionate about creating highly-engaging spaces where students can develop a love for social inquiry. I have taught both Family and Society and Religion and Society at the undergraduate level at the University of North Carolina, and have won two teaching awards: the Wilson Award, which is an award within the Sociology department for teaching excellence, and the Student Undergraduate Teaching Award, which is a university-wide award for outstanding undergraduate instruction. A copy of most recent syllabus (Fall 2019 - Religion and Society) is available here.
I strive to do two things well in my teaching. First, I want ensure that all students know they are deeply valued. This means taking a genuine interest in their lives and success, both inside and outside of the classroom. Second, I take a design orientation to every element of the course, no matter how minute, to optimize learning outcomes. This includes both micro-level designs (e.g., assignments, PPT slides, activities) and macro-level designs (e.g., spacing of exams, semester flow of course, progression of substantive topics). Much of my teaching draws heavily from Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.
I am also committed to diversity and equity in the classroom, which informs my choice of course materials (e.g., affordability), the topical content of readings/activities, how I facilitate group discussions, and how I grade student material.