I want to help students understand concepts by first introducing the “big picture”. As details are filled in, they will relate back to the big picture. I ask questions to aid students in reasoning through ideas and processes. My teaching methods emphasize understanding rather than rote memorization.

I received my B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Microbiology from Clemson University. During that time, I taught general biology labs as part of a teaching assistantship during graduate school. I have extensive training in pharmacology and human disease states (diabetes, COPD, infectious disease, GERD, osteoporosis, hypertension, depression) through my pharmaceutical career.

My professional experience includes eight years of undergraduate teaching and eighteen years in the pharmaceutical industry. In both careers, my primary responsibility has been to communicate scientific concepts in an effective and engaging manner. After college, I served as a volunteer at Collins Children’s Home, which involved tutoring and mentoring middle school students. I have also been a Sunday School Teacher (K-1st) for 14 years.

I was VP of Collegiate Civitans during my junior year of college. In this role, I coordinated student volunteers in assisting senior citizens in the community. More recently, I have served as a volunteer at the Knoxville Free Medical Clinic.