Personal Description:

I have two Master's degrees and a Bachelor's degree (MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics, MA in Philosophy from Simon Fraser University, and a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Alberta).

I really enjoy seeing students grow in their knowledge and abilities, and consider it a privilege to be able to assist them in this process. For me, one of the most rewarding experiences I can have as an instructor is to provide them with skills and learning methods that they can take with them after our tutoring is completed to help ensure their success in their lives in general.

In academia, there is often a serious lack of engagement with those outside of the research community, and there can be a lot of barriers to those who didn’t grow up in academic households. For me, however, public engagement is really important. I feel that I have a responsibility to take what I have learned and to take subjects as complex and abstract as philosophy, and to make them into something interesting and digestible for anyone, regardless of their background.

Tutoring Experience:

For the last three years I have worked as a Teaching Assistant in the department of Philosophy at Simon Fraser University. My main responsibility in this role involves designing and leading tutorials for up to 20 undergraduate students. I also regularly hold office hours where I work one-on-one with my students to help them communicate their ideas more effectively, grasp challenging concepts, retain learning from the classroom, and prepare for exams.

Additionally, I have worked for several years as a private tutor for various courses in the humanities and social sciences. I've also worked extensively as an editor; and this experience has given me insight into common issues in writing and the tools to resolve them.

Tutoring Approach:

Any concept can be made accessible. Many subjects can be full of intimidating jargon or confusing formalisms, but sometimes this can make concepts appear more difficult than they really are. When I am working with students, I prefer to use language that the student will be comfortable with and easily understand. Once the basic concepts are in place and understood, then I can show students how the formalisms and jargon map on to those concepts.