What course(s) do you teach, or have you taught, at URI?

I teach graduate courses in the field of Adult Education; the foundational course -The Adult and the Learning Process and a number of courses I developed based on perceived need: Developing and Delivering Effective Presentations, Skill Development from Novice to Expert, and Mentoring in Formal and Informal Contexts. One of my absolute favorite courses that I used to teach was in K-12 education: The Psychology of Learning. I learned so much from my students in that course and had such fun teaching undergrads.

What are the 3 qualities that you think make for a great teacher?

It’s difficult to narrow it down to three but I think to be truly effective as a teacher you need to be flexible, patient/understanding, and empathetic.  Learners of all ages need to feel respected and cared for, in my opinion. Adult learners returning to school, often after long absences, need so much flexibility and empathy. They bring so many barriers to the learning setting and learning in a comfortable, flexible and supportive space is so important to their persistence and success. 

Who is a teaching mentor that you have, and what did you learn from them?

I’ve been teaching at URI for 29 years (part-time for 3 years and full time for 26 years). My teaching mentors were Dr. James McCrystal from RIC and Dr. John Boulmetis, with whom I worked at URI for 17 years. They both taught me, by example, to be patient, flexible, and empathetic with learners. I carry their lessons with me every day. 

What are you excited to do next in the classroom?

I am completely excited about learning to use AI to help students become more self-directed learners in online spaces. I want to help them see AI as a support and not a crutch. I am really looking forward to learning more about and using AI with adult learners.

What do you hope students look back on in ten years and say about your class(es)?

I truly hope that when my students look back they can say, without a doubt, that they always felt completely respected, supported, and cared for. I work very hard to meet each student where they are, and to provide a safe, comfortable, and nurturing space that encourages their learning and growth.

How do you relax after a long day of teaching?

I find my solace in cooking. My Italian grandmother spent hours teaching me to cook from scratch, to learn how to use my instincts and senses to cook, rather than relying on recipes. I love creating beautiful, tasty food from whatever I have in the house.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love nothing more than sitting down with a really good book and getting lost in a story. It feels like a guilty pleasure to read something other than academic works!

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