“I am still learning.” – Michelangelo, aged 87

Every person has the ability to learn, and every person should have that opportunity.

Learning is embedded into every stage of life. It doesn’t stop when you leave high school, or college, or even when you get your PhD. We are all lifelong learners.

I am devoted to student success. I believe that any student can succeed at anything, no matter their background, age, history, or learning style. They just need the right tools to get the job done. I strive to inspire my students every day, and I get to learn from them, about how they learn best, and how their experiences at the University of Arkansas have shaped their lives. My goal is to have the opportunity to provide students with every chance to succeed. I teach my students the importance of grit and having a growth mindset, and I show them how to use the tools they already have to attain their goals and succeed in the classroom. 

I currently teach Effective College Learning at the University of Arkansas, and I used to teach Elementary-Intermediate German while I was earning my Master’s Degree. Each lesson is filled with opportunities to grow and develop, whether it’s about a new note-taking strategy or how to conjugate a new verb. I tell my students at the start of a new semester, “You get out of this class what you put in”. Every lesson has purpose and value, and can teach you valuable things about yourself. It’s all about how deep you dig. 

In my classroom, students always come first. No matter what the lesson, goal, or task at hand, their success in learning gets my immediate attention. Student success is what I pride myself on, and I achieve this success while also creating a positive and energetic learning environment. As an Effective College Learning instructor, I have the opportunity to work with my students individually on their goals and aspirations. I get to know how they learn best and give them strategies to take better notes, read more in-depth, and study more effectively before an exam. Other topics in our class cover grit, motivation, growth mindset, and ways to curb procrastination. The content of my class reaches far into every department on campus because these skills are not bound to any single discipline. No semester is the same because I have such diverse groups of students, and that provides a unique challenge for me to mold the lesson to fit the student, instead of the other way around. During my time as a German Teaching Assistant, I had countless opportunities to develop lessons and use various teaching strategies in my classroom and saw success when I integrated new ideas into my lessons. My students were able to learn, experience culture, and practice their languages skills while enjoying the class period and working with classmates and friends.

I believe that educators and student advocates are permanent role models in the lives of students, and our impact on their experience in school or university stays with them far beyond when they leave the classroom. Some of my best memories, and some of my most memorable and positive role models are my former teachers, and I strive to create a positive impact in my students’ lives everyday.