Experienced Geography and Social Science Instructor

Chanda B.

My academic and professional background spans geography, environmental justice, organizational leadership, and sustainability — giving me the ability to tutor across a wide range of social science, research methods, and interdisciplinary subjects. I hold a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering and am currently completing my PhD in Geography at Penn State, where my dissertation examines distributive, procedural, and recognition justice frameworks in environmental contexts. I also hold a PhD in Organizational Leadership, which informs how I teach systems thinking and applied research.

I have been teaching at the college level for several years, currently as a Geography Professor at CUNY Medgar Evers College and as an instructor in Columbia University's Sustainability Management program. My courses range from introductory social science to upper-division geography and social change, serving students from diverse backgrounds in both classroom and seminar settings. I design curriculum that meets students where they are — breaking down complex theoretical concepts into clear, applicable frameworks — and I regularly develop original lesson materials, assignments, and lecture content from the ground up.

My tutoring approach is student-centered and adaptive. Whether working one-on-one or in small groups, I prioritize understanding how a student thinks before introducing new material. I ask diagnostic questions, use real-world case studies, and build from a student's existing knowledge base. I am particularly effective with students navigating research writing, academic argument, geography, environmental studies, and social science coursework at the high school and college levels.