Teaching

I teach environmental science and GIS as tools for understanding real systems — not just software or theory. My courses are built around applied problem-solving, field experience, and spatial thinking, helping students connect ecological processes with lived landscapes and communities.

I believe students learn best when they are actively doing the work of environmental science: collecting data, building models, asking better questions, and translating evidence into meaningful insight. Whether in a computer lab or on a rocky shoreline, my goal is to help students build both technical confidence and systems-level understanding.

Intro to GIS

An applied introduction to spatial analysis and environmental mapping. Students build practical GIS skills while working with real environmental datasets. Emphasis is placed on reproducible workflows, critical interpretation of spatial data, and professional-quality map design.

Students leave the course able to:

• Design and execute spatial analyses

• Interpret environmental datasets

• Produce clear, meaningful visualizations

Global Environmental Assessment & GIS

A systems-based course integrating global environmental data with geospatial tools. Students examine climate, agriculture, population, and resource distribution through applied spatial assessment and policy-oriented analysis.

Students develop:

• Systems thinking across scales

• Data synthesis skills

• Applied spatial modeling experience

Marine & Coastal Field Courses

Field-intensive courses focused on coastal and marine systems. Students engage in hands-on ecological research, spatial data integration, and field-based problem-solving.

Field experiences emphasize:

• Research design and data collection

• Drone imagery and spatial integration

• Translating field observations into analytical insight

Student Research & Mentorship

Mentorship is central to my teaching. I work closely with students on independent research projects, applied GIS analysis, and field-based investigations. Students participate in data collection, spatial modeling, research synthesis, and conference presentations.

My goal as a mentor is to help students move from completing assignments to contributing meaningfully to research and applied environmental work.