Teaching & Mentorship
My teaching interests are rooted in geoscience education, mentorship, and helping students build confidence in scientific and technical work. As a PhD student in Geophysics at Virginia Tech, my academic background spans geosciences, geophysics, tectonics, geodesy, and GNSS-based approaches to understanding continental deformation.
My leadership experience in the Virginia Army National Guard has also strongly influenced my approach to teaching. As a Sergeant Squad Leader, I have led training activities, supervised junior soldiers, and supported team readiness and accountability. These responsibilities taught me the value of clear communication, patience, structure, and adapting instruction to the needs of different learners.
In the classroom, I aim to create a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and building skills over time. I am especially interested in supporting non-traditional students, first-generation students, and students who may not immediately see themselves represented in the geosciences.
As I continue developing as an educator, I hope to contribute to courses and mentoring opportunities related to introductory geoscience, geophysics, tectonics, geodesy, field methods, and scientific computing.