"In 2012, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design & Marketing with honors from Northern Michigan University. After graduation, I decided to pursue a career in medicine. I completed my pre-medical coursework. In 2018, I graduated with a Master of Arts in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences. In 2018, I started a Doctoral Program in Science Education. During graduate school, I earned two Teaching Effectiveness Awards (2018 and 2023). I began tutoring in 2011 and have eight years of teaching experience at university, in-person and online, with up to 170 students in a single class. I am also a Pre-Health Sciences Advisor for Pre-Med, Pre-Nurse, and other health-related occupations.

I apply a cognitive-constructivist approach to learning with my students, which requires each student to take on an active role in the learning process. How students learn largely depends on how their minds make sense of the concepts, and that only works if the student is motivated to learn with a growth mindset. During each session, I challenge students to think about their learning and why.

I utilize a "Talk-Aloud" learning methodology, where students verbalize their thought processes as they read through content or solve problems. Talk-Aloud helps visualize student thinking, like a mind-reading superpower that allows an instructor to "see" what errors students make as they solve problems. Learning is a two-way process requiring students to review the material before, engage in the session, and review the material after. Tutors are great for helping students identify problems, but they cannot possibly make students remember everything covered in sessions. It is up to the student to commit to the learning process before, during, and after every session. My goal as a tutor is to help students develop critical thinking and learning strategies to become better independent learners, which will help them succeed in their programs and life." less...