Teaching & Mentoring

I am the product of effective teaching and mentoring, both at Middlebury College and the University at Buffalo. As such, I strive to provide similar levels of instruction and guidance to my students.

Curriculum Development

GLY 447/547: Glaciology, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology
- Developed a MATLAB-based lab on quantifying subglacial erosion rates for use by graduate and undergraduate students as part of a unit I taught on subglacial erosion – the lab was integrated into MATLAB Grader. Materials available here.
- Students worked with real world data, comparing ice velocity measurements from a glacier cross section to estimates they derived using different empirical equations.
- Students estimated average basin-wide subglacial erosion rates and used these to determine an empirical subglacial erosion coefficient for Athabasca Glacier.

GLY 445/545, Glacial Geology, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology
- Created a lab integrating glacial mapping, geospatial analysis, and paleoclimate records by recreating ancient paleoglacier surfaces, building off my research reconstructing paleoglaciers surfaces across Alaska. Materials available here.
- Students mapped moraines and trimlines of Angel Lake Glacier, Nevada to reconstruct the paleoglacier surface, and used the relationship between surface area and elevation to calculate the equilibrium line altitude.
- Using empirical equations, students calculated the Last Glacial Maximum temperature depression at Angel Lake their previously derived equilibrium line altitude and real-world modern climate data from the SNOTEL network, providing insights into paleoclimate in the American west.

MATLAB-derived velocity profiles of Athabasca Glacier, Canada, compared to real-world velocity measurements. Students found the bext approximation to use for calculating subglacial erosion rates

Screenshot of the first step required in reconstructing paleocglacier surfaces in Google Earth

Teaching Experience

GLY 447/547: Glaciology, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology Spring 2022, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- 5 graduate students; 2 undergraduate students (majors)
- Facilitated and graded MATLAB-based labs focused on modeling and observing glaciological processes and data
- Created and delivered lectures on glacial erosion and ice flow

GLY 470/570: Fracture and Flow, Earth Materials, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology, Spring 2022, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Graduate-level course
- Led lab sections where students investigated physical properties of rocks including permeability, viscosity, and grain structure

GLY 105: Natural Hazards & Climate Change, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology, Fall 2020 & Fall 2019, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- 2 sections/semester with 25 students each
- Delivered lectures on a variety of introductory geology topics including climate change, rock and mineral identification, map reading, and basic atmospheric science
- Facilitated hands-on lab sections using stream tables, rock and mineral hand samples, earthquake boxes, and more
- Graded and administered lab reports and exams
- Helped transition material from hard copies to an online learning software (Tophat/Canvas)

GLY 312: Surface Processes and Hydrology, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology, Spring 2020, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Re-designed and upgraded six labs for online instruction due to COVID-19
- Delivered weekly lectures on lab topics including fundamental geomorphic principles, hydrology, and streamflow/geomorphic modeling
- Assessed weekly lab reports

GEOL 161: Oceanography, Middlebury College, Department of Geology, Fall 2018, Teaching Assistant
- Facilitated weekly labs on research vessel on Lake Champlain
- Assisted lab groups in designing and implementing semester-long research project on Lake Champlain currents
- Graded weekly homework assignments and final projects

GEOL 112: Environmental Geology, Middlebury College, Department of Geology, Spring 2018 and Spring 2017, Teaching Assistant
- Delivered lectures on tsunami records in Japan and led class discussion of relevant scientific journal article
- Assisted with in-class activities including basic climate modeling, mineral identification, and conceptualization of geologic processes
- Graded weekly homework assignments and quizzes

Guest Lecturer for:
- GLY 445/545: Glacial Geology, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology
  - Delivered a lecture on equilibrium line altitudes, methods for reconstructing them, and what climate information we can glean from these
- ECSC 0350: the Mountain Critical Zone, Middlebury College, Department of Geology
  - Delivered weeklong lecture series on alpine glacier geomorphology and equilibrium line altitude reconstructions

Mentoring Experience

Glacial History Lab, University at Buffalo
- Mentored four undergraduate research assistants, teaching lab and field research skills, including cosmogenic nuclide chemistry; one is beginning graduate school in our lab this fall to continue cosmogenic nuclide dating in central New York

Underrepresented minorities in STEM, Middlebury College
- Mentor for a first-year student interested in majoring in geology
- Program aimed at pairing upperclassmen mentors with first-year students – both from underrepresented minority groups – to provide support and guidance

Trainings/Certifications

Associate Level Certification, Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) / University at Buffalo, 2022
- This certificate offered by CIRTL (a national organization focused on training future STEM faculty) and administered through the University at Buffalo is the result of a semester-long program where I attended weekly lectures and discussion groups centered on developing effective teaching methods and improving learning outcomes of students from all backgrounds and experiences.

Effective Teaching Training for Academic Careers Seminar Series, CIRTL / University at Buffalo, 2021
- In this separate seminar series, we focused on tangible classroom-related topics including developing useful syllabi, different means of academic evaluation, and preparing engaging and useful lectures.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Conference, University at Buffalo, 2020 & 2019
- In these conferences, we learned effective methods of hands-on instruction for facilitating engaging lab sections, how to create safe and engaging learning environments, and how to effectively teach online (due to COVID-19).