Guiding Philosophy

Teaching has been my passion and a significant part of my undergraduate and graduate career. I began teaching in my senior year of college as a teaching assistant for Introduction of Psychology, and independently taught an undergraduate level course Introduction to Computer Science as a student lecturer during my master’s degree (in Chinese). For four years during my doctoral studies, I have worked as an international teaching assistant for seven courses at Vanderbilt University. My enthusiasm for scientific research has motivated me to organize workshops for undergraduates and mentor undergraduates on the steps required for lab success and independent research. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone learn and become inspired by the discipline of psychology and neuroscience.

My teaching philosophy has developed from my experience as both a student and a teacher of diverse topics, across various classroom settings, and in different cultural contexts. The courses for which I have taught ranged from as little as 30 students to as many as 300. Topics discussed but were not limited to Experimental Designs, Mental Disorders, Statistics, Computer Science and Human Sexuality. My perspective in the classroom is shaped by my identities as both a native speaker and a major ethnic group member in my home country Taiwan, and also as a minority, international, Asian woman in college setting in the US. Altogether, these unique conditions and experiences have informed my teaching practices to help students learn best, as well as provide me with important values that I hope to integrate and reflect in my teaching. As an educator, I strive to create an inclusive and equal learning environment, to provide quality teaching and promote active learning, and to inspire learning in the classroom and beyond. I believe that...