I am personally committed to excellence in education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and strive to help foster a learning, active environment in both the classroom and the laboratory. I have demonstrated my instructional abilities at a range of levels by teaching at all levels from introductory calculus-based physics to graduate-level nonlinear optics. In 2015 I received the Kansas State University Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. This is the highest teaching award offered at Kansas State University.

I have three guiding principles that shape my physics instruction and interaction with students. The first is the love sharing the knowledge, the importance and the excitement of physics. Regardless of major, all students need to understand some basic physics to function in a technological society. I use this excitement and energy to keep my teaching both interactive and student-centered. My teaching style is structured to make active engagement happen. Secondly, I believe that it’s important to be empathic towards students, understanding that physics is very difficult for both new and upper-level students. Being a first-generation college student who struggled with my introductory physics courses, I emphasize with students who have difficulty learning physics. My role is not as a gate-keeper to but as an enabler to help students reach their possible intellectual ability in order to be successful in their chosen career. Finally, I believe in the role of a professor as both a scholar and a teacher, and the importance of a liberal arts education. I value teaching because it makes a direct and positive impact on the lives of students.

Courses Taught

· PHYS102 The Physical World 2 (physical science course)

· PHYS113/114 General Physics 1 and 2 (algebra based introductory physics, taught recitation sections)

· PHYS144 Physics Today 1 (Freshman physics major seminar)

· PHYS213/214/223/224 Engineering Physics I and 2

· PHYS522 Mechanics (advanced undergraduate mechanics)

· PHYS636 Physical measurements and instrumentation (undergraduate electronics and instrumentation)

· PHYS708 Physics of lasers (graduate and advanced undergraduate lasers course)

· PHYS806 Journal Club (introductory graduate seminar)

· PHYS807B Atomic physics seminar (graduate seminar)

· PHYS953 Nonlinear and Quantum Optics (advanced graduate nonlinear and quantum optics)