Teaching Statement

Teaching is not merely a requirement in my academic life; it is a source of enrichment and satisfaction. Leading discussions and imparting knowledge to others bring me joy, and I am dedicated to continually enhancing my teaching skills by incorporating innovative methodologies. With nearly a decade of teaching experience across diverse settings, including independently teaching university-level classes, my pedagogical approach is informed by a strong foundation.

My journey began with instructing children, serving as an English language instructor in French primary schools. After completing my undergraduate degree in Economics, with a minor in French language, I spent a year living in France, teaching English at Écoles Jules Ferry, Molière, and Mirabeau in Blois, France. I taught a high-energy English class to children aged 3-10, focusing on games, crafts, and activities. It was not only a lot of fun, but I also gained valuable insights into teaching, both from hands-on experience and formal instruction as part of the program that brought me to France. In addition to my formal teaching training, in the Fall of 2019, I completed a semester-long course on teaching as part of my master’s education.

Drawing from the skills and energy cultivated during those experiences, I inject vitality into my university teaching, fostering engaging and interactive environments. During my master's program at UMass Amherst, I honed my skills as a teaching assistant for a large introductory statistics course. My responsibilities included leading discussion sections, assisting in-class instruction, and grading final papers for a large introductory statistics course with approximately 600 students every semester across multiple sections. In the second year of my master’s, I took on extra responsibilities as the "head teaching assistant," managing the course email and learning management system. While not glamorous, these are essential skills to master, and my extensive practice with this large class has served me well.

Responding to the unforeseen challenges posed by the sudden transition to online learning during the Spring semester of 2020, I took charge of course logistics. In 2021, I was awarded the Vijay Bhagvan Teaching Assistant of Distinction Award by the Department of Resource Economics for my work transitioning the course to remote learning. This recognition holds special significance as it came during my transition to a Ph.D. program at Penn State.

While primarily employed as a research assistant during my Ph.D., I actively sought teaching opportunities to further diversify my skill set. In the Fall of 2022, I was employed by the department to independently teach Global Agribusiness, an undergraduate-level trade economics course focusing on agriculture. I undertook the challenge of revamping the course, updating materials to align with a new textbook, and integrating discussion activities based on relevant YouTube videos. My teaching style involved a combination of brief lectures, small group discussions, and whole-class synthesis sessions to enhance student engagement.

An aspect of my teaching approach that I am particularly proud of is the emphasis on participation and preparedness. I implemented methods such as in-class surveys, participation tracking, and random student engagement during discussions, all of which significantly contributed to fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment. Recognizing the diverse learning styles of students, I provided alternatives for those who preferred written responses, receiving positive feedback for accommodating various preferences.

In the Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness survey conducted after the class, I received a commendable median rating of 6/7 in ratings of how the course increased student understanding and how well I, as the instructor, promoted a meaningful learning experience. Some comments in response to “What aspects of this course helped you learn?” revealed what students liked about the course:

“[The] format of the course was clear and kept attention the whole time. My favorite teacher of the semester”

“The daily in-class discussion assignments really helped me understand how vocabulary and terminology was implemented with real world problems.”

I have also taken to heart some of the students’ suggestions to improve my teaching, including a greater effort to regulate the cadence of my speech and an effort to vary the composition of groups.

I believe that one of the most important job skills students can learn from me is quantitative methods using Microsoft Excel, I have independently taught two classes in this domain. In the Fall of 2023, I assumed the role of adjunct professor at Penn State's School of International Affairs, teaching Research Design a graduate-level introductory statistics course (median instructor rating 4/5). This semester, Fall 2024, I am teaching Markets and Prices: Analysis and Forecasting, in Penn State’s Agribusiness Management program. For both of these classes, I developed a comprehensive curriculum focusing on practical applications focused on using Microsoft Excel. This is not only very useful in aiding students in computation and teaching them basic programming, but it is also one of the most practical skills for the modern workplace.

I am well prepared for teaching quantitative courses, ranging from introductory statistics to graduate-level econometrics, with a keen focus on real-world applications. Additionally, I am interested in expanding my teaching repertoire to include qualitative courses, having already developed materials for a global agribusiness course. My future teaching interests extend to courses centered around food marketing and food policy, aligning with my primary research areas.

In essence, my teaching philosophy revolves around creating an inclusive, engaging, and adaptable learning environment that equips students with both foundational knowledge and practical skills to excel in their academic pursuits.