Teaching and Research

I am a Ph.D. candidate studying Health Education at the University of Kentucky. I have experience teaching students at Eastern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, and Transylvania University. My main areas of expertise are health and wellness, sexuality education, and drug education.

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Teaching Philosophy

 

I believe that students should have access to accurate and factual health information so they can make decisions that align with their values system. 

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I expect students to challenge their own beliefs throughout my courses. One of my favorite assignments came from an undergraduate professor of mine. The assignment, called Quick Thoughts or QTs, are one-sentence thoughts, conclusions, questions etc. that came to you as a direct result of that day’s class. For instance -- What struck you as completely original? Did you change your mind about an existing conclusion that you held, or, become more certain in your existing belief? Be open to your own ideas. With students’ permission, I anonymously share QTs at the beginning of each class as a way to curate a discussion on the topic or to assist in critically thinking about a topic.

 

It is important to me that students are aware of how research is gathered, analyzed, and disseminated, especially to the general population. Each week, I provide students with news articles, podcasts, Ted Talks, and documentaries on applicable health topics to help them better understand how this information is relevant outside of the classroom and to consider how information is presented to them.​

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