Why I Teach

My approach to anthropological inquiry is inspired by what the late poet Mary Oliver calls instructions for living a life, which are to “pay attention, be astonished, tell about it.” I believe that learning to think anthropologically can be revelatory by awakening us to our assumptions about the world and the forces that shape it. 

My main goal as a teacher is to foster new levels of critical awareness by linking classroom knowledge to one’s life and communities. Encouraging students to relate course themes to their personal lives and experiences creates an atmosphere of exploration and inclusivity within my classes. Collaborative learning activities common to my classes prime students to see themselves as active producers of knowledge. 

I approach education through feminist, antiracist, and antiableist pedagogical values that guide my efforts to provide accessible, critical education and facilitate an engaged, equitable environment for all learners. 
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What I Teach