—  Teaching Experience  —

Courses Taught

Risk, resilience & Rock Climbing

This course will explore the intersections of rock climbing, interpersonal and intrapersonal growth, and women and gender studies. We will ignite conversations about safety, trust, risk-taking, transcending fear, resiliency, and healthy community building. These conversations will be embodied through practical and tactile climbing skills. We will also look at power and privilege in the climbing world and how to expand the field to be more inclusive, intersectional, and accessible to people from a variety of backgrounds. We will look at climbers who are changing the field, as well as read articles and engage in media that tackle these and further topics.

Introduction to Women & Gender Studies / Queer Studies

This course is an introduction to the discipline of women and gender studies through an intersectional lens. We will be examining this topic utilizing historical, modern, and multicultural sources based on current feminist scholarship. Our discussions, assignments, and readings will ask you to think critically about gender and sexuality scholarship and the impacts that our assumptions have on our daily lives. We will discuss personal issues— such as body image and sexuality— as well as public and political issues— such as the wage gap, reproductive rights, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Additionally, we will analyze popular representations of gender and sexuality in the media.

Rock Climbing 1

This course is a basic introduction to the fundamentals of rock climbing. Course objectives will be achieved through skills sessions, demonstrations, practical experience, discussion and lecture on the whiteboard, and written quizzes. Emphasis will be placed on skill development, physical activity, and safety in the sport of climbing.

Elements of Sculpture

This course introduces non-art majors to the conceptual, formal, and technical elements of sculpture. Students will learn how to create sculpture individually and collaboratively, and how to enter into a dialogue about works of art. Basic skills taught include wire sculpture, mold making, casting, carpentry, and textile work.
Examples of student work here

Intermedia 1

This course is an introduction to Intermedia through student-initiated research and creative production in a range of media including but not limited to video, installation, social media, conceptual art, and performance. Class discussion, multimedia presentations on the history of Intermedia, and readings will complement student projects.
Examples of student work here

Courses Assisted

Ice Climbing

This course introduces students to the basic skills required for ice climbing, ice tool and crampon use, basic avalanche hazard identification, and technical rope systems in these environments. Course objections will be achieved through skill demonstrations, practical experience, and written quizzes. Over the classroom session and field days, students will apply topics to enable safe climbing. Leave No Trace skills appropriate for the winter and montane environments will also be covered in this course.

Studio Art, Feminist Practice, Social Justice

Students will explore issues related specifically to gender, women’s, and sexuality studies through the arts. Students in this class will build on the work of previous classes on the topic of domestic violence. We will learn about how to foster community workshops, create a public art project with silk and fabric dye, and also work toward setting up exhibitions across Iowa. Students will be responsible for teaching at least one community workshop (transportation will be provided), and contributing to the public art project and exhibition schedule. The purpose of the experience is to create ties with community partners, learn more about their needs, and then create plans of action for public campaigns through the arts and educational interventions.

Gender, women’s, and sexuality studies practicum

Students will explore the intersection of race, sexuality, class, and gender through a practicum experience at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women. Students will be responsible for facilitating the Women’s Collective program, a 12-week curriculum using women’s circles focused on healthy relationships between people, domestic violence, sexual assault, race, class, gender, and power and control. The purpose of the curriculum is to help women who are incarcerated explore ways to have productive, non-violent relationships that are positive and egalitarian. Graduate and undergraduate students from various disciplines are welcome. Students will also be asked to read scholarly texts to learn more about incarceration in North America, and intersectionality. They will also be expected to discuss these topics, write a series of deep reflections about their work at the correctional institution, and fully participate as a facilitator in the program.