I have had the pleasure to teach multiple labs, co-teach several lectures, and mentor several undergraduate researchers in my lab. During both my master's and Ph.D. careers I have taught a range of labs. These labs ranged from general biology lab for majors and non-majors to upper-level courses on invertebrates, insects, parasites, and medical entomology (courses listed below). My experience teaching these courses has lead me to continue to teach biology courses after I finished my doctoral degree.
South Plains College, Biology Department:
Lecturer: 2018-2019 Biol 1406- Biology for Science Majors I Biol 1413- General Zoology for Non-Majors
Texas Tech University, Department of Biological Sciences:
Teaching Assistant: 2011-2015; 2016-2018 BIOL 1403- Biology I Lab for majors BIOL 1404- Biology II Lab for majors BIOL 4301, Sec 025- Medical Entomology, Lecture and online ZOOL 3403/5403- Parasitology Lab ZOOL 3406/5406- Comparative Invertebrate Zoology Lab, distance lecture, lab coordinator
University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences:
Teaching Assistant: 2008-2011 BSC 108- Introductory Biology Lab 1 for non-majors BSC 115- Introductory Biology Lab I for majors BSC 476/576- Aquatic Insect Ecology
Mentoring Undergraduates:
During my undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. I have had the opportunity to mentor undergraduates with research and teaching.
South Plains College - 1 student Texas Tech University - 11 students University of Alabama - 3 students Millersville University - 3 students
Students collecting Invertebrates for their collections in ZOOL 3406
Field sampling day with undergraduate lab assistant Ben Breedlove, Dr. Steve Collins, and me. Photo taken by Dr. Nancy McIntyre.
TEACH (Teaching Effectiveness And Career enHancement) Fellowship: In the Fall of 2012 and Spring of 2013, I was a fellow in the TEACH program at the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center (TLPDC), Texas Tech University. This program allowed me to greatly grow as an educator and to help prepare me for future faculty roles. The program activities consisted of one-on-one consultation, instructor videotaping, comprehensive class feedback, peer observations, project work, workshop attendance, and the development of a professional teaching portfolio.
Outreach: I have had the pleasure over the years to work with several groups on community outreach projects. Listed below are some of the most recent projects I have been apart of.
- Playa Field Days - For the past three years I have been working with the Ogallala Commons to present at many of their playa festivals. This opportunity has allowed me to come in contact with landowners, students, teachers, state agency employees, among many other people to help educate them about the invertebrate communities of playa wetlands.
Playa field day demonstration in Castro County. Photo taken by Dr. Nancy McIntyre.
Organisms collected during a playa field day.
- TTU Entomology Club - I have been a member of the TTU Entomology club. The club has started several community projects to establish insect hotels on TTU campus and throughout Lubbock. The club is also in the process of establishing gardens that contain milkweeds and other flowers to support monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). The club also does several presentations throughout the year to help educate children about insects and their benefits.
Insect hotel located in the TTU Horticultural gardens that the TTU Entomology club is built on campus.
Leafcutter Bees (Megachile sp.) using the insect hotel.
- Butterfly Caretaker - Butterflies Alive Exhibit, Science Spectrum, Lubbock, TX. I helped to take care of the butterfly chrysalis, move butterflies to the display room, and educate the public about the butterflies.