I have a deep love of helping others construct new knowledge, and therefore, teaching has always been a top priority for me. After graduating college, I taught high school physics and chemistry before realizing that I didn't have enough knowledge about the characteristics of cognition to effectively help others learn. I earned my M.Ed in science education from Notre Dame and then earned my doctorate in Cognitive Psychology with a minor in Educational Psychology.
My pedagogy is informed by training, extensive classroom experience, and empirical research. I strive to create a student-centered learning environment for students to explore novel ideas and to develop critical thinking skills. To establish an exciting and engaging environment, I incorporate a wide variety of creative learning activities, provide compelling real world examples, and build personal relationships with students. I consistently monitor my students' learning so that my teaching meets their needs and enables them to achieve both content- and skill-related goals.