Department(s)
History
Education & Experience
• BA in Speech Communication, The Master’s University and Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Keble College, Oxford University
• MA in Government, Regent University
• Ph.D in Progress in Humanities, Faulkner University
• Teaching Since: 1999
• With WTMA Since: 2022
Courses Taught
Bio
I’ve had the privilege of teaching history, literature, and composition in both traditional and classical settings. My passion for the humanities, particularly history, has led me to teach at the high school level and to homeschool my own children at various ages and stages. My interest in history has led me to focus my teaching in recent years on medieval and U.S. History.
During my undergraduate years, I spent a semester at Oxford University’s Keble College which is what ignited my love for history. I studied medieval and Renaissance history, theology, and political philosophy under renowned scholars and explored historical sites with them across the UK. This transformative experience continues to inspire my teaching approach.
I believe that by piecing together the narrative of the past – the causes and effects, those things that have changed, and those which have stayed the same – we can better understand what it means to be human, whether in a bygone age or the present. By analyzing primary and secondary sources, students develop important analytical skills that help them to make meaning of historical events and understand how they connect to and have shaped our modern world.
My positive experiences with online learning, including completing my Master of Arts in Government and my current pursuit of my PhD in Humanities at Faulkner University, make me excited to be part of the online classical educational environment at WTMA.
Beyond the classroom, I also enjoy my work as a consultant for classical schools on curriculum design and pedagogy. When I’m not immersed in my work, I can be found with my husband and kids enjoying the many things we love to do together: eating, playing Mario Kart, goofing off, watching sports and movies, cheering each other at sports events, and exploring the great outdoors.
Question and Answer
Q: What type of student would find your class especially enjoyable or benefit the most from your style of teaching?
A:
Students who want to really think about history, not as names, dates, and places, but as the story of the people, what choices they made, why they made them, and what those choices have meant for the world we live in today – those students will really enjoy my class. If a student wants to learn about history, not so much from a biased perspective where they are told what they ought to think, but instead taught how to figure out history for themselves and come to some conclusions of their own, then my class is the right place for that sort of student.
Q: What is something you like to do with students in the online classroom that you aren’t able to do in person?
A:
I really enjoy that in the online environment, my students are able to add comments and ask me questions whenever they want to. In person, they have to raise their hand and wait until I call on them, and I don’t know whether they will ask to use the restroom or if they have a deep and meaningful comment to add. Deciding whether or not to let them interrupt my train of thought when I’m speaking is difficult in the in-person environment. Online, however, students can use the chat and either give me feedback, make comments, add questions, or even add additional information relevant to our discussion, and I can respond to their thoughts and comments as I’m speaking, without being interrupted. It’s great! I really enjoy that all of my students can freely share their thoughts and interact with me throughout the class session.
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