What a responsibility! By taking this charge seriously and conceptualizing it fully we can positively impact the quality and veracity of our students' thinking. I am invested in the intricacies of pedagogy. My experience of teaching at multiple universities such as GMU, Miami-Dade, New College of Florida, American and NYU affords me the opportunity to hone my skills as an instructor-across multiple departments. I bring a deeply entrenched belief in the development of student "idea." I see "idea" a finessed & nuanced, malleable entity that students themselves form and put to work in their thinking/ writing. This pushes them beyond the routinized 'thesis statement' and pushes them to foray into the uncharted waters of their own minds. I believe in the ability of students to learn to think critically and to actively engage in texts. I spend a great deal of time modeling and molding those skills. Students need to think deeply and critically at all times and actively engage those practices into their studies. I am a tough grader with high expectations, but I firmly believe in not "lowering the bar". I use my high standards as a driving force towards accomplishment and success. Students come to me for my expertise, but leave me realizing that they themselves are the integral voice in their own work. This transpires in an exchange that is both dialogical and balanced. We work together to cultivate beneficial critical thought. My ultimate pedagogical goal is to inspire students to become both curious and risky intellectuals who craft quality writing skillfully and employ deft critical thinking with great ease.

Bikram yoga, ballet, tapdance, writing and reading, etymology and wordsmithing, education, critical thinking and cultural theory, western continental thought, bluegrass music, performance, photography, arts & culture, cooking