School name: The Chicago School

Type of school: Professional

School locale: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Is your role mostly in-person, hybrid, online (synchronous or asynchronous)?  Online, primarily asynchronous

How many years have you taught psychology?  9 years

Classes you teach: Abnormal Psychology, Alcohol and Other Drugs in Our Society: Introduction to Chemical Dependency, Behavioral Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Learning and Cognition in Children and Adolescents, Neuropsychology, Philosophical Grounding in Ethics, Theories of Personality, Social Psychology and Culture & Study Abroad Courses to Germany & South Africa

Specialization (if applicable): Teaching undergraduate psychology students, intercultural-competency skill development through study abroad courses

What size classes do you teach? Up to 25 students

What is a book, article, research, or author/researcher that you would recommend that new teachers check out?  There are so many resources in the community of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) APA – Division 2 Facebook Page.

What do you know now about teaching that you wish you knew when you were starting?  I have found how I engage with students through online presence, intentional communication, and cultural humility has the greatest impact on student learning and outcomes.

Briefly tell us about your favorite lecture topic or course to teach.  The most rewarding courses I have taught included study abroad courses to Germany and South Africa. Being able to see the student growth in intercultural competency skill development, increased awareness of the relationship between power and oppression with marginalized groups, and the positive impact of collective resilience was life-changing for the students, as well as myself.

What’s your dream course if you had the time and resources to teach it?  A hybrid undergraduate 5-day residency-based course in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, following a 6-week online non-synchronous course, while incorporating a combination of service-learning, experiential learning, and exposure to a variety of professions in the field of psychology and mental health. Sites of interest would include learning about play therapy from the University of North Texas in Denton, observing Child Life Specialists at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, participating in Equine Therapy at Freedom Reigns Counseling in Burleson, visiting the TCU Counseling Center to learn more about the benefits of their Gaming Support Community, and experiencing therapeutic art at the Art Station. Finally, included would be an opportunity to practice cultural sensitivity and cultural empathy through a service-learning project.

What are three words that best describe your teaching style?  Empathetic, Engaging, & Encouraging. Prior to earning my PhD, I worked in the mental health field as a Licensed Professional Counselor, so my teaching style mirrors the skills I learned in building a therapeutic alliance.

What’s your workspace like? The institution I work for, The Chicago School, has a true commitment to social justice, encouraging learners to examine personal biases and allows instructors to apply real-world examples of psychological constructs through a socio-cultural lens. I would also love to note that one of the greatest benefits to the remote environment is spending time next to my Goldendoodle, Joey, as I attend Team and Zoom meetings.

Tell us about a teaching disaster (or embarrassment) you’ve had and how you dealt with the situation.  During my first year of teaching, I realized that power struggles will often times present themselves because of the complex nature of working with humans. However, I have also learned that when this happens practicing empathy and humility with learners goes much further than engaging in a power struggle.

What is something you are currently focused on improving or changing in your teaching?  I once had a mentor tell me that, at times, we need to clear the way in order to assist individuals in getting to where they need to be and allow them shine, meaning they already have all the qualities needed to succeed but having opportunities can significantly impact their professional growth and development. For me, what this looks like is inviting students into scholarship opportunities for research, publication, and presentation as this is one of the best ways to allow them to experience real-world learning.

What is something your students would be surprised to learn about you? I made a C+ in my first psychology course during my Freshman year in college and earned a whopping 1.8 GPA my first semester. Giving grace is important when students are learning how to learn because you never know what that second chance might bring to the field.