Demonstrations of my teaching effectiveness include: a recent teaching award, course syllabi, teaching evaluations, samples of student work, my role as a mentor and advisor, and professional development in the area of teaching.
Teaching award:
Favorite Professor for
the School of Arts and Sciences. Selected by graduating class. 2012.
Course syllabi:
I teach a range of different classes and engage in a range of different types of research activities. From the outside, these may seem disconnected or to have little in common. From my perspective, they are interrelated and complement each other in many ways. To sum up my course content, I will borrow the theme from an upcoming American Sociological Association conference, "Interrogating Inequality." In each of my classes, the focus is on social inequality, whether that inequality is linked to gender, race, ethnicity, social class, aging, or any other ascribed status. A much more common term outside of sociology (and increasing within sociology) is the term social justice. So whether I call the focus of my classes a "social justice" focus or classes that "interrogate inequality" the course material is the same -- classes that challenge existing inequalities at both a structural and individual level. I hope this is apparent from my course syllabi.
Teaching evaluations:
I have included all of my teaching evaluations. Like any teacher, I
recognize there is room for growth and improvement. I do, however, feel
that there are some positive and consistent themes within the
evaluations. I intentionally try to build student involvement and
participation and work as co-creators in the learning experience. From
my own perspective, I want the classroom to be inclusive, participatory, and as non-hierarchical as possible. Student comments reflect that I am an engaged and supportive teacher who is passionate about the topics we cover and the discipline of sociology. (Following in alphabetical and numeric order):
Samples of student work: I have included samples of student work from a range of courses, including Social Research Methods, Human Culture and Behavior, Sociology of the Life Course, and Gender in Society.
Student Advising and Mentoring: I would estimate that I am advising around 20 sociology majors and some minors as well as mentoring 22 current learning community students. It is not uncommon for students to ask for letters of recommendation years after they have graduated or for me to mentor learning community students from previous years. I tend to stay in touch with students over the years and offer support and advice on graduate school and other career choices. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work here at Westminster College.
Professional Development: I strongly believe that teachers should stay current and involved in the most important discussions within our disciplines. In addition to reading and staying up-to-date on articles and books within my areas of interest (primarily social research methods, gender, sexuality, aging, and food) and subscribing to sociology journals, I regularly seek out and attend professional development workshops at the annual American Sociological Association (ASA) conference. I have also attended several teaching workshops at Westminster College that focus on pedagogy, global consciousness, inclusiveness, and the first-year experience. Below is a list of the workshops I have attended at the annual American Sociology Association (ASA) conference as well as at Westminster College.
Teaching Workshop: Teaching Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality, ASA Annual Meeting, August 19, 2012, Denver, Colorado.
Global Consciousness In & Beyond the First Year, Westminster College, June 6-10, 2011, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Inclusive Curricula & Pedagogies: Connecting Theory & Practice, Westminster College, March 24-25, 2011, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Research Workshop: Teaching with Data: ASA Annual Meeting, August 16th, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia.
Teaching Workshop: So What? Connecting Classrooms to Careers for Undergraduate Students, ASA Annual Meeting, August 14, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia.
Research Workshop: Emerging Technologies for Qualitative Research, ASA Annual Meeting, August 8, 2009, San Francisco, California.
Teaching Workshop: Teaching the Sociology of Gender, ASA Annual Meeting, August 3, 2008, Boston, Massachusetts.
University of Utah Teaching Scholars Program, weekly workshops, Fall 2007-Spring 2008, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Teaching Workshop: Teaching Sexuality, ASA Annual Meeting, August 11, 2006, Montreal, Canada.
Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) 2005-2007, Periodically Scheduled Workshops, 2005-2007.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Workshop, ASA Annual Meeting, August 13, 2004, San Francisco, California.