Where do you work and what is your job title?

I am now an Assistant Professor of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan - Go Spartans!

Please briefly describe your new position and responsibilities at your job.

My work is primarily with the agriculture, food, and natural resources education program (i.e., training future agriscience teachers) and also leadership education here at MSU.

Did your participation in the GCCUT program impact any part of your job attainment process?

MSU prides itself on being interdisciplinary—no matter where you end up, you are expected to interact across disciplinary boundaries. Participating in the GCCUT program was a valuable introduction to the interdisciplinary culture and has helped me in a way I wasn't expecting.

What specific aspects of your participation in the GCCUT program impacted your job attainment process?

In my teaching, I often use resources (e.g., classroom technology, group work strategies, innovative assessment approaches) I gained from the GCCUT program. However, what I use more than anything else, is the awareness about creating a safe learning space for students with different backgrounds, beliefs, and values. The GCCUT program was a tremendous experience for opening my eyes to the rich diversity within our postsecondary classrooms and how we, as educators, can use these diverse perspectives to encourage growth and development among all students. Outside of the classroom, my GCCUT experience has helped me in a very unique way.

“The GCCUT program was a tremendous experience for opening my eyes to the rich diversity within our postsecondary classrooms and how we, as educators, can use these diverse perspectives to encourage growth and development among all students.”

Is there anything else you would add about your GCCUT experience that you think would interest prospective students?

I came into this program with five years of college training in teaching (BS and MS in Agricultural Education) as well as four years of teaching experience; however, I still learned something new in every class session. Being a teacher is a lifelong learning experience, and this program enriched my development as a teacher. One of the greatest experiences I had in this program was collaborating with fellow teachers from around the university. Hearing these diverse teachers' ideas and experiences broadened my conceptualization of what teaching at the college level can be. It was an amazing experience, and I recommend it to anyone, regardless of educational experience.