HANDS ON LEARNING
My pedagogical approach to teaching and my own practice is centered on in learning from the ground up; from the people and projects operating on the ground and finding ways to combine grass-roots knowledge with facts, cases, and research. Experiential learning opportunities for students open up avenues for growth, acceptance, acknowledgement about what works and what doesn’t, and emphasizes the field and in the community as a principal classroom. A key component of my teaching philosophy is also effective communication, particularly the ability to articulate technical concepts in a manner that is comprehensible to individuals from diverse backgrounds, languages and cultures.
Over the years, I have taken students to various post-disaster locations, participating in rebuilding efforts in places such as New Orleans, Panama City, Panama, Valparaiso, Chile, and Haiti. On these sites, we collaborate with communities, being mindful of our roles as partners, helpers, and learners, all while utilizing pertinent skills and tools at our disposal.
Undergraduate advocate
In addition to teaching and working directly in the field, I am recognized for my individual coaching, attentive listening, and leadership within the DUSP undergraduate community. Since 2004, I have been a committed steward of DUSP’s undergraduate program, advocating for the integration of key values—justice, fairness, and community engagement—into the education of undergraduates across the institute. Despite challenges, including a proposal to eliminate the undergraduate program in 2012, we have persevered, leading to the highest enrollment in majors, minors, and HASS concentrators seen in many years.
