M.S., Boston College 2003

B.S., University of South Carolina 1997

Presently I have been leading field trips in my Earth Science classes and labs to the Little Manatee River, a small tributary of Tampa Bay near Ruskin, Florida. We have been examining surface suspended sediment concentrations and bottom sediment grain size distributions as a lab group, but individual projects have ranged from ecological surveys of the river system to assessments for recreational and real estate development of the area.

The reason for the wide range in individual topics is that I subscribe to the idea that education is a personal endeavor, and must therefore be tailored to the individual learning style and interests of each student. I am also fully committed to teaching science as a method of investigation, experimentation, and theory formation. Investigation allows for a personal connection to be made with our surroundings, stimulating curiosity; the desire to know more and test ideas. Experimentation then naturally follows curiosity, where ideas, which become hypotheses, are tested in order to more deeply understand underlying processes. Finally understanding is focused and expressed in theory formation, where the concepts, facts, and processes investigated throughout the scientific method of learning are assimilated so that they can be applied to future situations.

My scientific background is in physical and geological marine science. Research that I have been involved in has mainly been focused on sediment dynamics and wave attenuation in near-shore environments. My teaching experience has ranged from guest lessons in elementary classrooms, general science classes at the middle school level, physics, honors physics, AP Physics and marine science in high school, as well as oceanography, basic math and environmental science in college. I have taught both online and tradition classes. I am very interested in the differences between science education for majors as compared to that for non-majors, particularly bridging the gap between the two and making the skills of science more accessible to non-majors. I am also interested in how people learn, and implementing diverse modalities in science education.

As an educational volunteer, I have been working with my children’s elementary school as a member and chairperson of the Dads Club. Our mission has been to work toward improving the school and the educational experience of the students. We have taken on various improvement projects, reclaiming and landscaping areas of the school grounds for use by the teachers and students. We hold several free, family-oriented events to improve the school community. Most of our focus has been on fundraising efforts to sponsor specific projects and programs for the school, mainly the construction of a covered pavilion for PE classes and all-school events. Our efforts have included golf tournaments, and charity dinners. I have been directly involved in the initiation and organization of these fundraising events, written a grant proposal. Presently I am directing the now annual events.