Teaching

Philosophy

I view teaching and research as deeply interconnected, with both grounded in curiosity, rigor, and collaboration. In the classroom, I encourage students to apply social science theories to their own experiences, fostering critical thinking and a sense of ownership. My goal is to create an inclusive environment where students from all backgrounds feel empowered to contribute, grow, and see themselves as part of the scholarly community.

Experience

Psychology

  • Introduction to Social Psychology (instructor of record)
  • Personality Psychology (TA)
  • Psychology of Women (TA)

Political Science

  • Introduction to American Politics (TA, section instructor)
  • Race, Innocence, and the Death Penalty (TA, section instructor)

Methods

  • Undergraduate Introduction to Statistics and R Programming (Psychology and Political Science; TA, section instructor)

Research Mentorship

In Spring 2026, I led the Belief Systems Lab’s undergraduate research program while my advisor was on research leave, helping guide student teams through every stage of the research process. My teams took first, second, and third place in their section at Michigan State’s University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF).

  • First place, best research presentation in psychology. “To what extent does your social group (or ‘close others’) agree or disagree with your political views?” — Genevieve Orlewicz, Nicole Thomas, & Peyton McLaughlin
  • Second place, best research presentation in psychology. “Does your social group influence how open you are to differing political views?” — Genevieve Orlewicz, Nicole Thomas, & Peyton McLaughlin
  • Third place, best research presentation in psychology. “The relationship between religion and media trust” — Emma Dye
  • “How country pride affects immigrants’ life satisfaction” — Madeline Hilditch & Mina Arikan

I also mentor undergraduates as collaborators on manuscripts, and have published with student collaborators as lead authors. I look forward to continuing this collaborative, student centric approach as faculty.

Courses I am Prepared to Teach

Social Psychology · Personality Psychology · Introductory Psychology · Research Methods & Statistics · Computational Social Science · Political Psychology · Political Behavior · American Politics · Moral Psychology · Attitudes & Persuasion · Beliefs & Misinformation · Psychology of Prejudice