Over the course of my M.Sc., Ph.D., and both professorships (UNCW, UK), I have been fortunate enough to engage in numerous teaching and outreach experiences. I enjoy teaching conservation and ecology both in the classroom and in the field as I believe both are important for a holistic understanding of the natural world. Although my teaching experiences are listed in detail on my C.V. (which can be downloaded from my Home page), a few highlights are as follows:
Courses taught “Birds of North America”. University of Kentucky –Natural Resources and Environmental Science NRE590. Spring, 2023. This is a 4-credit, advanced wildlife course about wild birds of North America (class: Aves) serving both undergraduate and graduate students. Lectures and labs follow three concurrent themes: 1) avian ecology with an emphasis on Kentucky species and their natural histories, 2) conservation issues associated with North American birds, and 3) applied field methods for studying wild bird ecology and habitat. Mean Overall Course ‘Teacher Course Evaluations’ (TCE) score: 5.0 / 5.0
“Wildlife Field Methods for Conservation: Birds”. University of North Carolina Wilmington – Environmental Sciences. EVS 440/541. Spring, 2022. A hands-on course in the tools and techniques of wildlife field methods. Focusing on birds, students learn basic applied wildlife methods employed by conservation and management agencies. Mean ‘Individual Development and Educational Assessment’ (IDEA) score: 4.8 / 5.0
“Avian Conservation and Management”. University of North Carolina Wilmington – Environmental Sciences. EVS 485/592. Fall, 2021. Exploration of the primary threats to North American bird populations, the ecological mechanisms that influence avian populations and management solutions that can enhance the conservation of avifauna. Mean ‘Individual Development and Educational Assessment’ (IDEA) score: 4.6 / 5.0
“Global Environmental Issues”. University of North Carolina Wilmington – Environmental Sciences. EVS 205. Fall, 2021. An interdisciplinary study of global environmental issues focusing on major current issues including human overpopulation, biodiversity loss, food and water scarcity, energy resources, atmospheric pollution, environmental justice and climate change. Mean ‘Individual Development and Educational Assessment’ (IDEA) score: 4.7 / 5.0
“Wildlife Conservation in a Changing World”. Cornell University – Natural Resources. NTRES 1200. Fall, 2018. A writing-intensive Freshman Writing Seminar (FWS) focused on improving skills associated with scientific writing, using controversial topics in global wildlife conservation and management as a learning tool. Student Evaluation of Instruction (SEI) score average: 4.7 / 5.0
Freshman writing seminar, Fall 2018
A field trip to Cornell's Arnot Forest, Fall 2017
Field assistants with migratory songbirds in hand
Demonstrating how to net capture bees, Spring 2015