Introducing the 2024-2025 Graduate Teaching Fellows
The Center for Teaching and Learning is pleased to introduce the newest cohort of Graduate Teaching Fellows! Graduate Teaching Fellows (GTFs) are Ph.D. students from a variety of disciplines who support the Center’s TA and Future Faculty programs. As graduate student ambassadors for CTL, they play an integral role in advancing the Center’s mission to promote excellence in teaching and learning across the Institute. By leading TA training sessions, conducting classroom observations, and holding one-on-one teaching consultations for other graduate students or postdoctoral instructors, the Fellows build a supportive and collaborative teaching environment for TAs across campus.
Meet the 2024-2025 GTFs below:
Name: Abby Diering
Department: Chemistry
Teaching Philosophy: My teaching philosophy can be summarized as teaching people to teach themselves. I try to support people in their own pursuit of knowledge while providing the resources and content necessary for that success.
Name: Akif Ağlar
Department: Economics
Teaching Philosophy: My teaching philosophy centers on fostering a passion for learning by being knowledgeable and enthusiastic about my subject while creating a supportive, friendly, and engaging environment that encourages students to strive for their best and take responsibility for their learning.
Name: Chandler Thornhill
Department: International Affairs
Teaching Philosophy: I like to give students room and opportunities to make mistakes. I think a lot of learning comes from correcting mistakes and students are usually afraid to make them because of the pressure of graded assignments. Having ungraded, in-class exercises where they can ask questions seems to really help their learning and help you as a teacher see where gaps in understanding occur.
Name: Marina Haldopoulos
Department: Biological Sciences
Teaching Philosophy: I work to create an environment that is both challenging and nurturing and helps facilitate connections and student-directed learning.
Name: Maugan Lloyd
Department: Philosophy
Teaching Philosophy: My teaching philosophy has a heavy emphasis on student motivation. I aim to effectively combat student procrastination, which is a challenge faced by many students in higher education.
Name: Marwan Shagar
Department: Building Construction
Teaching Philosophy: I focus on creating a supportive atmosphere for students to express their genuine opinions. Establishing a safe environment is crucial for effective teaching, allowing me to adapt my methods based on their feedback and comprehension.
Name: Paul Horton
Department: Machine Learning
Teaching Philosophy: My approach is focused on progress with an engaging style. No two students have the same background or experience with a subject so my emphasis is on the amount they are able to learn from their baseline. My method for achieving this is by sharing personal examples, group activities, injecting humor in the courses, and learning all the students’ names so they feel comfortable asking questions and participating.
Name: Savannah Howard
Department: Ocean Science and Engineering
Teaching Philosophy: Students in the sciences and engineering often define their success and self-worth on their academic performance, while also finding safety in the absolutes of the field – my goal is to protect that space while helping students gain confidence to explore a more complicated world and continue to feel pride in success while feeling less defined by it.
Name: Victoria Godwin
Department: Economics
Teaching Philosophy: I believe that being a good teacher means you are constantly learning and bettering yourself while also building meaningful relationships with your students.
Name: Ximena Pizarro-Bore
Department: Public Policy
Teaching Philosophy: My philosophy is one of compassionate rigor. I want my students to know they can count on me for anything they need, but also that I expect them to give their best (whatever that best is for each of them).
Name: Yuchen Zhao
Department: Digital Media
Teaching Philosophy: My teaching philosophy is to be supportive and open-minded. I believe in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
