Teaching is more than a profession for me; it is a passion. I enjoy connecting with students, imparting knowledge of a field I love, and inspiring them to see what sparks their enthusiasm and to pursue it with intensity.
I look forward to witnessing students have their own 'aha moment' when a sometimes disliked and even feared subject turns to understanding and enjoyment, culminating in students mastering the material so well they become the teacher.
My education began at North Idaho College (NIC), a community college in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I loved that experience, which fueled my passion for community college education. I transferred to Idaho State University (ISU) and obtained my Bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in Chemistry.
My career started in industry at Micron Technology, where I worked for nearly 10 years. Working as an analytical chemist at Micron has honed my laboratory skills, which I can impart to students. As sample analyses are discussed in the lecture and presented in the laboratory, I can inform students of using the same or similar testing in industry. When I gave students tours of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, I thoroughly enjoyed demonstrating how principles, analyses, and instrumentation discussed in class are actively used in the semiconductor industry.
While at Micron, I also worked as Chemistry adjunct faculty at College of Western Idaho (CWI) for two years. This is what got me excited about teaching. Initially, I was afraid of teaching for the first time, but it was a fun and rewarding experience. While teaching, I found joy in finding and performing demonstrations in the classroom. Having students form conclusions before a demonstration is performed and then thinking through with them the outcome of the demonstration enhances students' understanding and helps solidify concepts. Plus, this is what makes teaching and learning chemistry unique and fun!
After leaving Micron, I eventually ended up back in a laboratory, but this time in a hospital at Kootenai Health, where I was exposed to more of chemistry's clinical side.
Now I am back at CWI as an instructor and excited to teach chemistry! Teaching is truly my dream job.
