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Educational activities

Education is an important element of my professional life. I'm active within various educational programs within and beyond WHOI. In addition I'm currently pursuing a MEd in Higher Education in the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. My primary reason for choosing UMASS over other programs is its longstanding emphasis on and excellence in social justice in education.

In the MIT/WHOI Joint Program

I am an active faculty member in three disciplines within the MIT/WHOI Joint Program:

  • The Joint Program for Biological Oceanography (JPBO)
  • The Joint Program for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (JPAOSE)
  • The Joint Program for Chemical Oceangraphy (JPCO)

As faculty in the JPAOSE I co-teach the introductory course in Principles of Ocean Instrument Systems (MIT 2.688) . It is a semester-long, 12-unit graduate-level course taught in the Fall of each academic year, and is required for all JPAOSE students.

As faculty in the JPBO discipline I co-taught Elements of Modern Oceanography (MIT 12.702) in 2018 and 2019. This is a special, 12-credit semester-long graduate course in foundational oceanography designed to increase cross-disciplinary breadth across the entire Joint Program. 'Elements' was also the keystone academic course for WHOI's former Semester at WHOI (SAW) resident undergraduate program.

Between 2009-2011 I co-taught the JPBO introductory course in Biological Oceanography (MIT 7.470) . It is our semester-long, 12-unit graduate-level course taught in the Spring of each academic year, and is required for all JPBO students.

In Spring 2014 I led MIT 7.433 Marine Bio-Optics. This is an introduction to optics and their applications in biological oceanography, that focuses heavily on hands-on, laboratory experience with optical instruments and principles. This course was offered again in Spring 2019 (student access to Moodle site).

In the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP)

I'm a summer research mentor in the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP). PEP is is a multi-institutional program between the 6 Woods Hole scientific institutions and the academic partner, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. PEP is a 10-week program designed primarily for college juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups in marine and ocean sciences who want to spend a summer gaining practical experience in marine and environmental science.

My first PEP student (Xzayana Henderson, Dakota State University) arrived in June 2021 and worked on algal image analysis using ImageJ.

Field courses

International Graduate Training Course in Antarctic Marine Biology

My interest in polar oceanography started with a NSF-sponsored training course at McMurdo Station, which I participated in in 2006. This course is offered semi-annually and gives students a broad exposure to laboratory and field work in polar environments. I was invited to return to McMurdo and join this course again in 2018-2019 as an instructor.

   

Other Educational Activities

Undergraduate STEM in a Liberal Arts Curriculum: Deep Springs College

I've also had the opportunity to twice serve as a Visiting Professor at Deep Springs College in California. In 2007 I developed and led courses and independent studies in Single Variable Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, and Numerical Methods & Computer Modeling. In 2011 I returned to teach Single Variable Calculus and in Multivariable Calculus again.

 

Graduate Education: Innovations and Interests

I have a longstanding interest in the exploration of new models for teaching and fostering skill sets needed for interdisciplinary research.