Classes SCAD (Quarters): 

PHOT 113 Photographic Foundations I

PHOT 150 Color Technique

PHOT 218 Black and White Technique

PHOT 219/319/475 Photography Project Seminar I & II 

PHOT 220 Large Format Technique

PHOT 240 Photo History II

PHOT 312 Architectural Photography: Human-altered Landscapes

PHOT 314/332 Controlled Lighting II / Fashion Photography

PHOT 317 Photographic Travel: The Foreign and Familiar

PHOT 340 Inkjet Printing for Photography

PHOT 400 Business Practices for Photography

PHOT 480 Contemporary Issues in Photography

PHOT 709 Graduate Critique Seminar

PHOT 719/722/753/764 Photographic Arts I, II, III, IV

PHOT 730 Digital Printing Methodology

PHOT 754 Business of Marketing Photography

PHOT 762 Issues in Contemporary Photography

PHOT 790 M.F.A. Thesis

Classes SKIDMORE COLLEGE (Semesters):

AR229 Beginning Photography: Visual Literacy and Professional Workflow (non-majors) 

AR 330 Advanced Photography: Developing a Personal Vision

AR 351g Advanced Topics in Studio Lighting: Fashion as Photograph

AR351g Advanced Topics in Digital Media: Fine Art Print and Alternative Digital Substrates

AR 351g Advanced Topics in View Camera Craft 

AR351g Advanced Topics in Time-based Media and Video

AR351g Advanced Topics: Traditional Alternative Processes

Classes CARMEL (Semesters):

IBDP Visual Arts – Interdisciplinary Arts Course

MYP Year 5 Visual Arts – Art Analysis, Criticism and Theory

MYP Year 4 Visual Arts – Photography and the Visual Narrative

MYP Year 5 - Photo History and Visual Culture Studies

Teaching Philosophy

As an educator, I prepare my students to function effectively in a visually laden society. I teach them to actively seek out the answers to their questions, while guiding them to develop a personal artistic vision. In this digital age, the medium of photography is evolving every minute. Technical skills and production quality must be reinforced by conceptual understanding and a critical voice. In the classroom, I foster creative and critical thinking, focusing on a deep understanding of visual language. Through the lens of visual literacy, I guide my students embrace interdisciplinary understanding to develop their own personal vision. In the photographic language, similar to written language, you must first learn how to read, before you can write.

Within the studio, I encourage my students to explore a diverse set of applications for the medium, be it an augmentation of installation, sculpture, mixed media, bookmaking, or traditional fine art prints. I push my students to challenge themselves and take risks and it is through these risks that they will begin to define themselves as artists. I believe that personal attention and genuine exchange fosters a collaborative learning environment. These engagements develop bonds of trust and respect that further enable the student to take the risks and chances that I encourage. Because of varying differences in cultural background, I teach my students to embrace who they are and what they know. Encouraging them to experiment during assignments enables a more independent development of their own artistic vision.

I regularly refine my pedagogical approach to suit my students’ needs. The projects assigned focus directly on the most recent in-class discussions. These outside projects are accented by in-class interactive demonstrations of photographic technique and critical analysis. I use these projects to measure the student’s grasp of the subject matter, as well as the student’s artistic growth within the class. As the student progresses, refinement is found during critique sessions in which students practice critical vocabulary and personal expression.

I have high expectations for my students, but understand that each student has their own skill set and level of artistic talent. Thus, I encourage growth through a nurturing environment that supports each student’s individual needs. My goal as an educator is to provide my students with a strong technical and conceptual foundation, which in turn, will foster courage and their continued growth as they enter society.

Diversity Statement

Throughout my professional career, I have developed a range of professional skills, community experience, and a willingness to engage in activities that advance diversity, which have enabled me to create a positive impact in my  workplace and beyond.

As someone deeply committed to promoting institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion, I am proud of my contributions in teaching, research, and service. My professional practice, collegiate experience, and willingness to engage in activities that advance diversity are a testament to my commitment and have enabled me to create a positive impact on my students and the institutions I have worked for.

My ongoing commitment to diversity in education began in 2009 during my collegiate service at Skidmore College, where I dedicated myself to recruiting and multicultural student outreach. Over the past ten years, my experience as an educator in Hong Kong has only further solidified my commitment and broadened my experience. Throughout this time, as both a faculty member and administrator, I have worked to ensure that student and faculty populations reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Through my work at SCAD and Carmel, with targeted recruitment efforts, I have been able to increase the representation of underrepresented students and faculty members, helping to create a more diverse and inclusive learning environment.

Inside the classroom, my pedagogical approach has centered around representing international artists, underrepresented artists, BIPOC and 2SLGBTQI+ artists, fostering cross-cultural exchange and understanding. In regularly engaging and interacting with a diverse student body, I find it an absolute necessity to provide a diverse and complex representation of the lexicon of art history in order to drive deeper more genuine connections in my students’ work and their connection to others.

In all my endeavors, I remain committed to promoting institutional diversity and equity in teaching, research, and service. I am confident that my contributions have created positive impacts and will continue to do so, helping to create a better world for all.