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I earned my B.S. in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2002. As a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University, I studied the molecular mechanisms that maintain telomeres (the protein-DNA complexes at the ends of linear chromosomes). I also participated in the Teaching Certificate Program offered through Vanderbilt's Center for Teaching, where my love of teaching began.
At UK, I have taught BIO 148 (Introductory Biology I) to over 6000 students. I have also taught Genetics (BIO 304) and Cell Biology (BIO 315) courses, as well as upper-level seminars. I truly enjoy being in the classroom and having the opportunity to share my love of biology with students. I use an active learning approach which involves demonstrations, activities, and interactive questioning during class. I'm dedicated to first-year student success and helping students successfully transition to college. I served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Biology major from 2015-2021, and I currently direct the S-STEM program, a scholarship and curricular program for Biology and Neuroscience majors. I direct the Biology Learning and Motivation (BLAM) lab at UK, which seeks to understand and promote evidence-based strategies to help students succeed in introductory biology. I am also interested in understanding what motivates students to learn, especially in undergraduate STEM contexts.
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Vanderbilt University, 2007
Graduate Teaching Certificate awarded from Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching, 2007
Postdoctoral Training, University of Kentucky, 2010-2011
Graduate Certificate in Research Methods in Education, 2022
- Metacognition
- Motivation
- Biology Education
- Biology
- Biology Education