What is your teaching discipline?
Mathematics/Statistics
What brought you to the area?
I moved to Norfolk from Scotland to complete a Ph.D. at ODU. I started teaching as a Adjunct in 2011 before moving to State College to work for Penn State. I wanted to come back to Virginia and work for TNCC and moved to Newport News in January 2016, Starting full time at TNCC in the fall and currently living in Yorktown.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I consider myself a facilitator of learning. I believe students need to be active in learning with the instructor and each other. I believe that becoming active with students to help them be better students and manage their time better to be successful. I regularly communicate with my students on their progress and consider feedback a vital tool in learning.
What do you hope your students take away from your courses?
It depends on the course, often they need the knowledge and skills to be successful in their next class. In some classes they learn quantitative literacy, analysis and reasoning. Hopefully they become better independent students as I try to get my students to perform as well as they can.
What do you like to do on the weekends?
I have an eclectic taste and like many things; sports (proper football, rugby, tennis etc), TV, hiking, biking, movies, games, computers come to mind.
What is the most memorable place you have traveled to?
I have been all over Western Europe and America. Every place has something interesting and often many stories to tell.
What is in your refrigerator right now?
Food
What makes you laugh out loud?
Many things. I often laugh at myself.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I achieve things and move onto the next thing. I am not one to look back but forward.
What is your greatest extravagance?
No idea.
Who is your hero?
I do not have one.