Teaching

My journey as a teacher formally began in 2014 when I served as a Science Associate for an introductory biology course at Swarthmore College. In this position, I worked closely with the teaching faculty on pedagogy and tutored groups of students in weekly study sessions. Teaching was challenging but also very rewarding. I reveled in the act of biological story telling and shared in my students' feelings of triumphous joy at understanding new concepts. These feelings are only amplified when I teach close to my passions. As a graduate student instructor at University of Michigan, I have taught two semesters of microbiology and will be teaching mycology in fall, 2020. These are exciting opportunities to hone my leadership skills in a classroom setting, my ability to motivate students, and my effectiveness at communicating challenging biological concepts, all the while cultivating inclusivity. 

Outreach

Beyond the university, I belive mycology can serve a much larger purpose – to draw people's awareness to the natural world and in doing so cultivate what Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer describes as biocultural restoration: "the science and practice of restoring not only ecosystems, but human and cultural relationships to place, so that cultures are strengthened and revitalized along with the lands to which they are inextricably linked." There is much to be said about the role of fungi in restoring ecosystems, but perhaps less explored is its role regarding relationship to place. Over the years, mycology has motivated me to pay attention to much more than fungi. I have also learned a great deal about plants, animals, and other microbial beings, as well as the histories that shape landscapes and ecosystems. These histories, often violent and extractive, create solastalgia, a certain feeling of distress brought on by environmental change, which is inextricably linked to social injustice. For me, solastalgia is the most telling feeling that mycology can inculcate a relationship to place and in doing so perhaps foster introspection, compassion, community, and positive actions.

Midwest American Mycological Information (MAMI)

As a new resident to Michigan, I am excited to join a long-running nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to provide Michigan mushroom hunters with the education and certification to safely forage and sell wild mushrooms. The organization aims to expand its scope to foster interactions between mushroom enthusiasts and increase awareness of mycology across the Midwest.

Madison Mycological Society (MMS)

I founded MMS in early 2018 and was its president for almost two years. In that time, we became a nonprofit association, grew our mailing to list to hundreds of individuals, and hosted many mushroom walks, talks, and field trips. It was a grand time and a great lesson in leadership, organization, and civic engagement.

Members of MMS learned how to make tempeh from Roni, an expert producer of this fine fermented food.

Professor Anne Pringle taught members of MMS about lichen senescence and demographics at a local cemetery.