Teaching Philosophy
“The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something that we make happen.” ― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes that three elements must be present to create optimal experiences: voluntary motivation, worthwhile tasks, and active engagement. Like Csikszentmihalyi, it is my philosophy that a skilled educator is able to inspire students to participate voluntarily in challenging, worthwhile tasks as a means of fostering individualized student learning and growth.
Interested in learning more about my teaching philosophy? Read more here.
In the Community
The Connect Lab
In 2020, I joined The Connect Lab - a Psychology Research lab focused on the impact of promoting positive youth development - as the Dance Education Specialist. With this team, I’ve contributed to the development and implementation of virtual dance content for after-school partners.
Check out The Connect Lab to learn more about how this National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research project is impacting the lives of South Carolina youth.
Jasper Magazine
A feature in Jasper Magazine - a magazine and blog that provides coverage of the greater Columbia arts community, September 2016. An interview focused on my teaching philosophies and return to Columbia, South Carolina.