Committed to relational pedagogy through fostering genuine connection between students and the social world they already inhabit.
Philosophy
Throughout my graduate career I had the opportunity to develop my approaches to teaching across a wide variety of courses. I independently led undergraduate lab sessions in areas such as Crime, Law, and Deviance, Classical and Contemporary Theory, and Methods of Research courses. As an instructor, I had full responsibility for the design and implementation of undergraduate courses that included Social Problems, writing intensive courses such as Classical Sociological Theory, and Advanced Methods of Social Research.
I think that a keystone objective in teaching is the development of an understanding of the tension and connection between individuals and social structures. To meet this objective, I systematically integrate individual experience into lectures, assessments, and readings in an effort to induce idle curiosity. By working through iterative assessments, students are afforded hands-on experience in not only conducting theoretical and statistical analysis but, critically, recognizing their position within the data and broader society.
I also try to demonstrate the importance of underlying logics within theory and data analysis. By contextualizing theory and theorists within their respective time and space, students gain deeper insight in critiquing, integrating, and connecting theory to their own experiences.
Instructor of Record
SOCI 420 · Spring 2023
Advanced Methods of Social Research
Asynchronous course covering probability theory, central limit theorem, t-tests, ANOVA, and bivariate regression. Practical training in Microsoft Excel and Stata.
SOCI 314 · Fall 2022
Social Problems
Core social and behavioral science course exploring societal issues through sociological theory, exploring concepts like: entitlement, size discrimination, the war on drugs, police brutality, and hope.
SOCI 230 · Spring 2022
Classical Sociological Theory
Major-specific writing intensive covering pragmatism, Hegelian dialectic, the iron cage, anomie, and theory of the leisure class. Weekly reflection papers and essay examinations.
In Development
Introduction to Sociology
Foundational undergraduate survey course introducing core sociological concepts, perspectives, and methods of inquiry.
Criminology & Status
Examining the intersection of social status, power, and crime by bridging classical criminological theory with contemporary empirical findings.
Social Psychology
Upper-division course on social psychological theory and research exploring identity, perception, group dynamics, and the self in social context.
Theory Construction
Advanced seminar in the logic and craft of sociological theory building from conceptualization to formalization.
Mixed Methods
Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches: design, data collection, analysis, and the epistemological tensions between traditions.
Gaming & Mental Health
Dual-credit exploratory course bridging gaming culture and mental health through a sociological lens. Designed to reach students across institutional gaps.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024
Social Change · SOCI 314
Fall 2021
Sociology of Deviance · SOCI 211
Introduction to Sociology · SOCI 205
Spring 2021
Contemporary Sociological Theory · SOCI 430
Classical Sociological Theory · SOCI 230
Fall 2020
Advanced Methods of Social Research · SOCI 420
Methods of Social Research · SOCI 220
Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Sociology of African Americans · SOCI 323
Sociology of Sport · SOCI 319
Spring 2019
Sociology of Education · SOCI 415
Sociology of U.S. & Mexico Border · SOCI 203
Guest Lectures
Spring 2022
Sociology of Gender · SOCI 316
Spring 2022
Social Psychology · SOCI 411