I’ve always been fascinated by how people think, learn, and grow, and that curiosity shapes everything I do as an educator. I earned my Ph.D. in Psychology from here at UW–Madison, with a focus on cognition and development, and now I have the privilege of teaching across the psychology curriculum, from introductory courses to senior capstone experiences. In addition to in-person classes, I also teach many online courses, where I work to create engaging, interactive learning environments that help students feel connected and supported no matter where they are. To support my online teaching and learning, I have also earned my Quality Matters Higher Ed Teaching Online Certificate.
My goal in the classroom (physical or virtual!) is simple: create an environment where students feel engaged, supported, and challenged to think critically. I believe learning happens best when students see the relevance of what they’re studying, so a common theme across all my courses is the connection of psychological concepts to real-world applications. To achieve this, I use a variety of activities and strategies to help students not just understand the material, but also appreciate how it matters in their lives and future careers.
Courses taught previously and/or currently taught:
PSYCH 202 – Introduction to Psychology (honors and non-honors)
PSYCH 210 – Basic Statistics for Psychology
PSYCH 460 – Child Development
PSYCH 464 – Adult Development and Aging
PSYCH 532 – Psychological Effects of the Internet
PSYCH 601 – Thinking Probabilistically in Psychology
PSYCH 601 – Tech, Growth, and Change: Development in the Digital Age
Educational Background:
B.A. – Psychobiology (Ripon College)
M.A. – Psychology (UW-Madison)
Ph.D. – Psychology (UW-Madison)
Awards:
L&S Academic Staff Early Career Award – 2024
Honored Instructor – 2022, 2025