Decades of teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level has taught me how to assess how each student learns best. That allows me to make learning as easy and fun as possible for each student. And, that, in turn, allows them to learn. For the last four years, I have added to my teaching experience by teaching ESOL classes and tutoring individual ESOL students. My passion is teaching and learning, and I firmly believe that we are never too old or too young to do both.
I hold an...
Decades of teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level has taught me how to assess how each student learns best. That allows me to make learning as easy and fun as possible for each student. And, that, in turn, allows them to learn. For the last four years, I have added to my teaching experience by teaching ESOL classes and tutoring individual ESOL students. My passion is teaching and learning, and I firmly believe that we are never too old or too young to do both.
I hold an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College, and an MA in Criminology and Ph.D. in Sociology/Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania. The first half of my academic career, I taught undergraduates. As a teacher of undergraduates, I taught a specific subject matter; however, my most important job was developing independent thinkers and strong communicators, teaching everything from grammar and writing to public speaking and forming original ideas. My teaching, though, never stopped at the classroom door, as meeting with students one-on-one, I became a tutor, counselor, guide, and a bit of therapist, supporting the whole person. After all, learning happens best when a teacher understands the strengths, weaknesses and needs of the student. Mid-career, I moved to teaching graduate students, doing more of the same, but with greater intensity and higher expectations. Relatively early in my career, I was recognized for this work, having won the prestigious Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
I believe life is always better with humor, especially when learning something new. Whether the pressure is passing a test, landing a job, or helping a grandchild with homework, the process is easier when it's fun. It reassures students that mistakes aren't failures, keeps them trying, and transforms learning from a burden into a joy. And with any luck, it turns them into lifelong learners. I would love that for everyone.
