Current Courses Taught
GNST-G 400 GENERAL STUDIES CAPSTONE
A course that supports your transition from college student to the next stage of life, it is intended to engage students in a reflection on their collegiate learning and an exploration of their transition to professional careers and life-long learning beyond graduation. The content of the course includes topics such as personal responsibility and empowerment, making successful life transitions, self-discovery, resiliency, and self-concordant goal setting.
In this course, students will:
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Develop an intentional design for your life after graduating.
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Utilize goal-setting strategies to create actionable life and career goals.
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Reflect with a critical lens on life experiences and transitions.
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Apply self-learning to the creation of self-concordant plans.
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Understand and apply personal growth concepts and methods.
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Develop and utilize a knowing of one’s positive attributes and purpose.
(IU Indianapolis)
ASCS-Q 295 DESIGN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER
Applied learning of design-thinking principles and frameworks as a way to approach important life decisions with mindfulness and creativity. Includes exploration of majors and careers of interest as well as development of a plan to continue this exploration throughout the college experience and and intentional life, within and beyond it.
(IU Bloomington)
ASCS-Q 299 BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORY
Introduces a job and internship search paradigm focused on the developing a professional story and communicating it through many avenues in your career - including resumes, cover letters, interviews, and networking. Provides training in the creation of a storytelling-of-self plan that incorporates academic, extracurricular, and professional experiences, as well as strengths and skills into a compelling narrative.
​(IU Bloomington)
Past Courses Taught
Past Learning Communities Taught & Led
Community Education (Non-Credit) Taught
THRIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY
(UCOL-U 110 & UCOL-U 112)
Empowering Independent Youth Through Self-Discovery, Mentorship, and Community
The THRIVE Learning Community is a year-long, cohort-based academic experience designed specifically for independent youth transitioning into college life at IUPUI (IU Indianapolis). Rooted in a curriculum of self-authorship, social-emotional learning, and intentional life design, this program supports students in cultivating a strong sense of identity, purpose, and belonging.
In the fall semester (UCOL-U 110), students are guided through a transformative introduction to the university experience, developing essential academic and life skills while exploring their personal narratives, motivations, and values. Through understanding their positive identity, developing narratives through strategic storytelling, practicing reflective writing, and building interdependence through community, students begin to design lives of meaning and agency.
In the spring semester (UCOL-U 112), the learning community evolves into a co-created, inquiry-driven space where students collaboratively define the questions we explore—ranging from deep intrapersonal challenges to broader systemic and societal issues. This course emphasizes mentorship, intercultural communication, and the application of positive identity, all explored through experiential learning both in the classroom and out in the community.
Together, these courses form a dynamic, supportive environment where students are not only prepared to succeed academically, but also empowered to lead lives of purpose, resilience, and connection.
(IU Indianapolis)
INDIANA FOSTER SUCCESS CATALYST SUMMER BRIDGE
(UCOL-U 110)
Supporting Youth Transitioning from Foster Care through Empowerment, Education, and Community
From 2020 to 2024, I taught and served as curriculum and programming consultant for the Catalyst Summer Bridge Program, a statewide initiative supporting youth transitioning out of foster care. Developed in collaboration with Foster Success and IUPUI leadership, this federally funded ETV (Education and Training Voucher) program provides a holistic, residential college transition experience tailored to the unique needs of independent youth.
As part of a cross-organizational team, I helped design and implement the coursework, trained peer leaders, and established a long-term partnership to develop the program. I also developed and taught a customized version of the UCOL-U 110 First Year Seminar, specifically adapted to support students navigating the complexities of early adulthood, higher education, and developing strategic communication, positive identity, and self-authorship.
The course integrated social-emotional learning, strategic storytelling, and intentional life design to help students explore their identities, build resilience, and cultivate a sense of purpose. Through reflective practice, community-building, and skill development, students leave the program with greater confidence, clarity, and connection as they begin their college journeys.
(IU Indianapolis)
IVY SCHOLARS SUMMER BRIDGE
(IVYT 101/111)
Empowering 21st Century Scholars through Purposeful Preparation for College & Life
As the lead instructor for this Summer Bridge program, I designed and facilitated a dynamic, student-centered learning community tailored for Indiana 21st Century Scholars transitioning into college. This intensive experience adapted the IVYT 101 curriculum focused on academic readiness, personal development, and long-term goal setting specifically for Indiana 21st Century Scholars transitioning to college.
Through a blend of reflective practice, collaborative learning, and real-world application, students developed essential skills in time management, study strategies, and critical thinking, while also exploring their educational and career pathways through the lens of intentional vision-setting. Emphasizing equity, empowerment, and belonging, the program supported students in building confidence, community, and a clear vision for their future success—both at Ivy Tech and beyond.
(Ivy Tech Community College)
CENTRAL INDIANA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (CICF) SUMMER WORKSHOPS
Empowering Community Scholars Through Peer-Led College Success Workshops
From 2018 to 2020, I led a collaborative initiative between IUPUI and the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) to support community scholarship recipients—many from under-resourced backgrounds—as they transitioned to and progressed through college. These annual, one-day summer workshops provided a high-impact, non-credit experience focused on college success, identity development, and community building.
I designed and facilitated the workshop curriculum, trained and led a team of peer leaders, and created an inclusive, affirming space where students could build confidence, connect with resources, and develop strategies for thriving in higher education. The program emphasized relational learning, mentorship, and culturally responsive support, helping students feel seen, supported, and prepared for the academic year ahead.
(IU Indianapolis)
UCOL-U 110 FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
This course is a transformative introduction to the university experience, designed not only to equip students with academic success strategies but also to foster deep personal growth. Through the lens of social-emotional learning and strategic storytelling, students will explore their identities, values, and aspirations, cultivating self-authorship and intentional life design. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking, communication, and writing skills while also nurturing intrinsic motivation and a strong sense of purpose. Students engage in reflective practices that enhance both interpersonal and intrapersonal understanding, build meaningful connections within the academic community, and create a personalized support network. This course empowers students to navigate college—and life—with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
(IU Indianapolis)
UCOL-U 112 Critical Inquiry
In this second-semester continuation of the first-year seminar cohort-based learning community, students confront challenging problems arising from text and relevant issues they have a stake in from their own lives—this course invites students into an innovative, co-created learning experience where they are not just participants, but co-authors of the curriculum. Together, we define the inquiries we pursue as a collective, ranging from deep intrapersonal questions of identity, purpose, and values to larger systemic issues shaping our communities and world. Through experiential learning both in the classroom and out in the community, students engage in meaningful dialogue, collaborative exploration, and reflective practice. This course empowers students to think critically, feel deeply, and act intentionally as they navigate the complexity of life and learning.
(IU Indianapolis)
UCOL-U 201 INTRODUCTION TO MENTORING
This course is a foundational experience for first-semester student mentors who are peer leaders and instructors (AI) for programs in University College who receive a Leadership Scholarship, designed to cultivate the skills and mindset essential for impactful, inclusive mentorship. Through a focus on interpersonal relational development, intercultural communication, and the application of positive identity, students explore the art and science of mentoring in diverse university contexts. The course integrates the history and theory of mentoring with practical strategies for building trust, fostering belonging, and supporting the holistic growth of peers. Students will also gain insight into university structures and the varied needs of undergraduate students, preparing them to lead with empathy, cultural awareness, and purpose.
(IU Indianapolis)
IVYT 101 LIFE SKILLS FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
This course provides students with specific skills and strategies necessary to reach their educational, career, and life objectives. Topics include time management, study skills, learning styles, campus and community resources, critical thinking, utilization of technology, career skills, vision-setting, and diversity in society.
(Ivy Tech Community College)
IVYT 111 STUDENT SUCCESS IN UNIVERSITY TRANSFER
This course provides students with an overview of skills and strategies necessary to successfully complete a degree or certificate from Ivy Tech Community College and to transfer to a four-year institution. Students focus on developing life designs focused on reaching their educational, career, and life objectives.
(Ivy Tech Community College)
