I have a PhD in biological sciences from Florida State University and completed several years of post-doctoral studies at the National Institutes of Health. Teaching allows me to fulfill what I believe to be a fundamental responsibility of biologists: to communicate information to students so they can make informed decisions regarding their lives and the environment they live in. In addition, it allows me to share my vast knowledge and experience with future scientists and colleagues. I also want students to appreciate and value biological diversity and to leave my students with an increased sense of awareness. Below are several objectives I strive to achieve as an educator.
Objective 1: Students should understand the relevance of biology to their lives. I emphasize relevance by discussing current research studies and findings pertinent to the topic at hand by asking students to share their knowledge on the subject and by discussing how I have found the knowledge useful.
Objective 2: Students should know where to find information, how to critically evaluate that information, and how to make an informed decision based on their understanding of the issues.
Objective 3: Students should understand that biological issues are interconnected with economics, politics, history, and culture and should be addressed in context.
Objective 4: Students should be actively engaged in the learning process.
Outside of academia, I am an avid soccer player and fan of the game.