Teaching
Approach
I am a teacher-scholar who uses an inquiry-based, student-centered teaching philosophy in her classes. I believe that students learn best when they can: (1) critically engage in conversations about social issues; (2) connect personal experiences to new theoretical and empirical data, and (3) feel empowered in a classroom environment that embraces diverse perspectives. I also support students’ intellectual pursuits as well as their personal growth as individuals outside of the classroom.
Courses
Department of Sociology, Colorado State University
SOC 205: Sociology of Race and Racism (Fall 2023)
It seems like so many people are discussing matters involving race and racism. Yet much confusion remains over what these concepts actually refer to and how they have changed over time. In this course, we will employ key concepts and frameworks that sociologists use to examine the construction of race and manifestation of racism in the United States. We will focus extensively on the power of ideology; namely, how commonly-held beliefs about race shape and limit our ability to address racism and inequality more broadly. We will discuss experiences of race and racism, the history of racial formation in the United States, and the ways in which race functions within major social institutions. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Explain what sociologists mean when we say that race is socially constructed; (2) Understand the sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed; and (3) Explain how racism manifests today.
SOC 311: Sociological Research Methods (Fall 2023)
Sociology is the systematic study of human society and social behavior, from large-scale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions. But how do we actually study the social world in a systematic way? In this course, we will acquaint ourselves with the logic and methods of sociological research. We will pay particular attention to research design, measurement, data collection, and reporting. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Pose sociologically-informed research questions about society or social behavior; (2) Identify appropriate research approaches to answer research questions; (3) Develop and evaluate measures that are valid and reliable to answer research questions; (4) Evaluate research designs through hands-on experience with at least one data collection approach; and (5) Communicate, both written and orally, about research design, measurement, and data collection.
Department of Sociology, UNC Chapel Hill
SOCI 122: Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (Fall 2018; Spring 2019; Fall 2020, 2021, & 2022)
Race remains a tremendously important category in the world that continues to permeate nearly every aspect of social life, yet it remains a poorly understood and often taken-for-granted concept. In this course, we will employ key concepts and frameworks that sociologists use to examine the construction of race and ethnicity in the United States. We will focus extensively on the power of ideology; namely, how commonly-held beliefs about race shape and limit our ability to address racial inequality. We will discuss experiences of race, the history of racial formation in the United States, and the ways in which race functions within major social institutions. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Explain what sociologists mean when we say that race is socially constructed; (2) Understand the sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed; and (3) Explain how racial inequalities manifest today.
SOCI 101: Sociological Perspectives (Spring 2020, 2021, & 2023)
Why study sociology? Because what you think and do as an individual is affected by what is happening in groups, organizations, cultures, societies, and the world. Sociology offers you a new way to understand the connections between individuals and society, along with perspectives on the impact of social forces on individual behavior. In this course, we will cover major themes in sociological thinking, including the interplay between the individual and society; how society is both stable and changing; the causes and consequences of social inequality; and the social construction of human life. Understanding sociology will help you to discover and explain social patterns and see how such patterns change over time and in different settings. My goal is to show you that sociology is not just a study of human interaction; it also offers a new perspective on how to engage with the world around us that you may find useful even after this course has ended. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Understand sociological mindfulness and a sociological perspective; (2) Apply a sociological perspective to real world problems; (3) Analyze media and your own life from a sociological perspective; and (4) Evaluate the usefulness of a sociological perspective in answering questions about the social world.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, UNC Chapel Hill
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work
Approach
I view diversity, equity, and inclusion as integral aspects of my scholarly work. I believe that the creation of diverse and inclusive intellectual spaces fosters critical inquiry, a necessary component in the pursuit of a socially just and equitable society. I have worked with mentoring programs for students from underrepresented groups, created an inclusive pedagogy in my classes, and developed an expansive research agenda that focuses on underrepresented communities.
Selected Professional Service Activities
Past:
Approach
I am a teacher-scholar who uses an inquiry-based, student-centered teaching philosophy in her classes. I believe that students learn best when they can: (1) critically engage in conversations about social issues; (2) connect personal experiences to new theoretical and empirical data, and (3) feel empowered in a classroom environment that embraces diverse perspectives. I also support students’ intellectual pursuits as well as their personal growth as individuals outside of the classroom.
Courses
Department of Sociology, Colorado State University
SOC 205: Sociology of Race and Racism (Fall 2023)
It seems like so many people are discussing matters involving race and racism. Yet much confusion remains over what these concepts actually refer to and how they have changed over time. In this course, we will employ key concepts and frameworks that sociologists use to examine the construction of race and manifestation of racism in the United States. We will focus extensively on the power of ideology; namely, how commonly-held beliefs about race shape and limit our ability to address racism and inequality more broadly. We will discuss experiences of race and racism, the history of racial formation in the United States, and the ways in which race functions within major social institutions. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Explain what sociologists mean when we say that race is socially constructed; (2) Understand the sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed; and (3) Explain how racism manifests today.
SOC 311: Sociological Research Methods (Fall 2023)
Sociology is the systematic study of human society and social behavior, from large-scale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions. But how do we actually study the social world in a systematic way? In this course, we will acquaint ourselves with the logic and methods of sociological research. We will pay particular attention to research design, measurement, data collection, and reporting. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Pose sociologically-informed research questions about society or social behavior; (2) Identify appropriate research approaches to answer research questions; (3) Develop and evaluate measures that are valid and reliable to answer research questions; (4) Evaluate research designs through hands-on experience with at least one data collection approach; and (5) Communicate, both written and orally, about research design, measurement, and data collection.
Department of Sociology, UNC Chapel Hill
SOCI 122: Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (Fall 2018; Spring 2019; Fall 2020, 2021, & 2022)
Race remains a tremendously important category in the world that continues to permeate nearly every aspect of social life, yet it remains a poorly understood and often taken-for-granted concept. In this course, we will employ key concepts and frameworks that sociologists use to examine the construction of race and ethnicity in the United States. We will focus extensively on the power of ideology; namely, how commonly-held beliefs about race shape and limit our ability to address racial inequality. We will discuss experiences of race, the history of racial formation in the United States, and the ways in which race functions within major social institutions. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Explain what sociologists mean when we say that race is socially constructed; (2) Understand the sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed; and (3) Explain how racial inequalities manifest today.
SOCI 101: Sociological Perspectives (Spring 2020, 2021, & 2023)
Why study sociology? Because what you think and do as an individual is affected by what is happening in groups, organizations, cultures, societies, and the world. Sociology offers you a new way to understand the connections between individuals and society, along with perspectives on the impact of social forces on individual behavior. In this course, we will cover major themes in sociological thinking, including the interplay between the individual and society; how society is both stable and changing; the causes and consequences of social inequality; and the social construction of human life. Understanding sociology will help you to discover and explain social patterns and see how such patterns change over time and in different settings. My goal is to show you that sociology is not just a study of human interaction; it also offers a new perspective on how to engage with the world around us that you may find useful even after this course has ended. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Understand sociological mindfulness and a sociological perspective; (2) Apply a sociological perspective to real world problems; (3) Analyze media and your own life from a sociological perspective; and (4) Evaluate the usefulness of a sociological perspective in answering questions about the social world.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, UNC Chapel Hill
- SOCI 412: Social Stratification (Spring 2017)
- SOCI 251: Research Methods (Fall 2016)
- SOCI 101: Sociological Perspectives (Fall 2015, Spring 2016)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work
Approach
I view diversity, equity, and inclusion as integral aspects of my scholarly work. I believe that the creation of diverse and inclusive intellectual spaces fosters critical inquiry, a necessary component in the pursuit of a socially just and equitable society. I have worked with mentoring programs for students from underrepresented groups, created an inclusive pedagogy in my classes, and developed an expansive research agenda that focuses on underrepresented communities.
Selected Professional Service Activities
Past:
- Equity and Inclusion Research Advisor, Fordham University's Office of the Chief Diversity Officer (Fall 2022-Summer 2023)
- Conference Coordinator, Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program at UNC Chapel Hill (Summer 2022)
- Founder and Co-organizer, La Familia (former empowerment group for Latinx graduate students) (Fall 2017-Spring 2019)
- Graduate Research Assistant, Initiative for Minority Excellence at UNC Chapel Hill (Spring 2017-Summer 2018)
- Graduate Assistant, Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program at UNC Chapel Hill (Summer 2016)