Teaching

Professor of English, rhetoric, composition, and literary studies with more than a decade of experience in education and extensive experience within online higher education. My work as an educator is grounded in communication, critical inquiry, rhetorical awareness, and the belief that language remains one of the most influential forces shaping culture, identity, scholarship, and human connection.

Teaching Philosophy

My approach to teaching is shaped by both scholarship and lived experience within classrooms that span secondary education, higher education, online learning, tutoring environments, and interdisciplinary instruction. At the center of my teaching philosophy is the understanding that language is never neutral. The ways individuals read, write, speak, interpret, and communicate influence how they understand themselves, engage with others, and navigate academic and professional spaces. Because of this, I view teaching as a collaborative intellectual process that asks students to think critically, communicate intentionally, and engage with ideas beyond surface-level interpretation.

In literature and writing courses especially, I encourage students to examine how storytelling, rhetoric, persuasion, and communication shape social understanding and cultural discourse. My classrooms emphasize analytical thinking, rhetorical awareness, research development, and authentic discussion while creating environments where students feel challenged academically without feeling disconnected from the learning process itself. Whether students are analyzing literary texts, composing research arguments, delivering presentations, or reflecting on leadership and character development, my goal is to help them recognize the broader implications of communication across disciplines and everyday life.

My work in online higher education has also strengthened my interest in digital pedagogy, student engagement, and equitable learning practices. I believe effective instruction requires more than content delivery. It requires adaptability, clarity, mentorship, and the ability to foster intellectual presence within both physical and digital classrooms. As educational spaces continue to evolve alongside technology, media, and artificial intelligence, I remain interested in how educators can maintain rigor, accessibility, and meaningful engagement while preparing students to think critically within increasingly complex communication environments.

Areas of Instruction

Higher Education Courses Taught

Composition I

Composition II

World Literature

Intro to Literature

Literary Analysis

Research Writing

Rhetoric & Persuasive Writing

Effective Public Speaking

Digital Communication

Intro to Leadership & College Success

Critical Thinking & Character Development

Creative Writing

Academic Writing & Revision

Media Literacy & Communication

AI Ethics in Writing & Education

Educational Experience

Dual Enrollment Instruction, Grades 9–12

Tutoring for Grades 9–12

Adult Learner Tutoring & Academic Support

Online Higher Education Instruction

Student Success & Engagement Support

Certifications and Research Interests

  • Certifications

    My professional development reflects interdisciplinary work across rhetoric, language studies, communication, higher education, and digital learning environments. In addition to teaching and research, I continue to pursue professional training that strengthens instructional practice, communication strategy, student engagement, and rhetorical scholarship across both academic and professional contexts.

    Certifications & Specializations

    • TESOL Certified
    • TEFL Certified
    • Rhetoric: Persuasive Writing & Public Speaking

  • Research & Educational Interest

    My research interests explore the intersections of rhetoric, literature, higher education, communication, digital pedagogy, and representation within academic and cultural spaces. Much of my scholarly interest focuses on how storytelling, persuasive communication, literary canonization, and educational structures shape identity, perception, and access within both institutional and public discourse.

    Areas of Interest

    • Literary Canonization & Representation
    • Equity in Higher Education
    • Rhetoric & Persuasive Communication
    • Digital Pedagogy & Online Learning
    • Storytelling & Cultural Identity
    • Literature & Social Commentary
    • Writing Instruction in Digital Spaces
    • Crime, Mystery, & Thriller Narratives
    • Communication Across Generations
    • AI, Ethics, & Academic Writing
    • Media Literacy & Public Discourse

Teaching in the Digital Classroom

Much of my instructional experience has taken place within online higher education environments, where communication, engagement, and accessibility become central to the learning experience. Digital classrooms require intentional course design and instructional strategies that encourage students to remain active participants in discussion, analysis, research, and collaboration rather than passive recipients of information. My work in online learning spaces focuses heavily on maintaining intellectual engagement while also recognizing the diverse academic, personal, and professional demands students often navigate outside of the classroom.

My instructional approach incorporates discussion-driven learning, multimedia integration, rhetorical analysis, written reflection, and interactive communication practices that encourage students to think critically while strengthening their academic voices. I regularly utilize platforms such as Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, Microsoft Teams, and other educational technologies to support organization, accessibility, communication, and student feedback. I am also particularly interested in conversations surrounding artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and ethical writing practices as technology continues reshaping modern education and communication.

At its best, online education creates opportunities for flexibility, accessibility, and expanded intellectual engagement across geographic and cultural boundaries. My goal within digital classrooms is to create environments where students feel intellectually supported, academically challenged, and encouraged to approach communication as both a practical skill and a meaningful form of influence.

Teaching is not simply the transfer of information. It is the cultivation of thought, voice, and intellectual confidence through language, inquiry, and meaningful engagement with the world around us.