TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Professors are catalysts for change

Over the last five years, I have had the opportunity to teach and mentor hundreds of students – from those in their first years to those in their final semesters. I have taught writing-intensive courses, classes in Psychology and Asian American Studies, and classes that focus on diversity and culture. I strive to use each of these experiences as opportunities to support the growth and development of my students as individuals and as the next wave of socially engaged community members. As a critical race scholar and diversity scientist, I empower my students to fight for societal change and develop skills that will set them up to succeed beyond the classroom.

COURSE OVERVIEW

PSYC 114F - RACE IN EVERYDAY SPACE

Fall 2020, Fall 2021

"We are all products of a racialized society, and it affects everything we bring to our interactions" (Oluo, 2018, p. 15). This seminar uses psychological theory and research as well as interdisciplinary scholarship (e.g., ethnic studies, history, sociology) to critically unpack this statement. Throughout the semester we will examine the nature and experience of racially marginalized communities in the United States and engage in critical analysis of the ways in which systems of power affect the everyday lives of racially marginalized communities (for a full list of topics see the schedule starting on p. 6). As a First Year Seminar, this course will emphasize the continued development of written and verbal communication skills.

PSYC 216 - RESEARCH METHODS IN DIVERSITY SCIENCE

Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022

This course introduces students to the research methods important to conducting scientific inquiry into topics related to inequality, oppression, and disparities in life outcomes across a broad range of experiences of marginalization (e.g., gender, race, sexuality, and the experiences at the intersections of these domains). In the process of introducing research methods pertinent to diversity science, we also discuss foundational and contemporary research in diversity science (for a full list of topics see p. 5).

PSYC 260 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Spring 2021, Fall 2021

What leads us to become attracted to one person rather than another? How does prejudice develop, and how can it be reduced? Can psychological research help protect the environment and, if so, how? This course offers an overview of classic and contemporary social psychology, covering topics such as group behavior, friendship, stereotyping, conformity, obedience, and conflict resolution.

PSYC 317 - SEMINAR IN ADOPTION & CULTURE

Spring 2021, Spring 2022

This seminar uses psychology theory and research, as well as interdisciplinary scholarship from across the social sciences and humanities, to critically examine the psychological experience of being adopted. We will examine the nature and experiences of adoption, including international, domestic, transracial, and same-race adoptions. We will draw on critical scholarship that highlights systems of power and questions the established "truths" of adoption (e.g., adoption as saving an orphan). Further, we will examine the ways in which belonging to a minoritized culture, race, or ethnicity impacts the ways in which individuals experience adoption. Example topics include adjustment, birth family, identity, migration, and well-being.