Q: What work experiences led you to this position with the University Center for Teaching and Learning?
A: I am first and foremost a teacher, who loves sharing the art and science of teaching with other teachers. What better place to be than the Teaching Center?

But, my career path has been fairly unconventional. I have degrees in physics and astronomy, science, society, and the public understanding of science, and STEM education.

I began my career teaching high school science for a number of years, and then moved to informal education working in the museum/science center field for 30 years in New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. This included 15 years as Director of the Buhl Planetarium & Observatory, Director of Science & Education, and Senior Scientist, at Carnegie Science Center. Throughout those years, I developed expertise in teacher professional development through training programs at UC Berkeley and Harvard, and finally as Director of Professional Development for ASSET STEM Education. Throughout my career I also taught as an adjunct faculty member in both astronomy and education. I’ve taught both undergraduate and graduate students since 1991. I’ve been teaching part-time at Pitt since 2006. My many years of teaching experience and my interest and expertise in pedagogy and faculty professional development, made working at the Teaching Center extremely appealing, and exciting.

Q: What’s the most exciting project you’re working on right now? What makes it so interesting?
A: There are always many fascinating projects at the Teaching Center but, right now, it’s easy to pick my favorite. We have just begun work on a major initiative for the Teaching Center and for Pitt as a whole. This new project is the development of a Master Teacher Certificate (MTC) program for faculty. This project is exciting because it speaks to the very reason the Teaching Center exists. Faculty are under a lot of pressure juggling their research, service, and teaching. It’s hard to do all three well. Even more to the point, our faculty are brilliant content experts. But, most are not teaching experts. How could they be? They studied their discipline, not teaching and learning. The MTC project will be a way in which we can give all faculty the chance to gain the knowledge and skills to enhance and grow their teaching practice. I am excited about the impact that such a program could have at Pitt!

Q: What do you love most about your job and why?
A: There are actually two things that stand out equally for me. First, I get to work every single day with some of the most intelligent, creative, dedicated, and caring people I have ever known. In every department across the Teaching Center these characteristics shine through. The Teaching Center team is simply an amazing group of people! Second, is the intellectual stimulation. Every day is different and every day brings new opportunities to learn. If you see yourself as a lifelong learner, and you thrive on new experiences, the Teaching Center is the place to be.