Teaching & Mentoring

I've taught, tutored, and mentored a diversity of students—from high schoolers to community college learners to undergraduates at an R1 research institution. Below are highlights of my experiences in supporting student success.

Instructor of ERM 397: Effective Communication in Environmental Science

Pennsylvania State University | Jan 2022 - Dec 2023

Developed 3-credit undergraduate course to fulfill the Technical Writing requirement for Environmental Resource Management majors
Served as sole instructor of record in Fall 2022 (15 students) and Fall 2023 (18 students)

Embedded Tutor in High-Risk Composition Classes

Harrisburg Area Community College | Aug 2017 - Aug 2019

Assisted in content delivery for 6 classes supporting 100+ students
Identified at-risk students for targeted support in order to decrease drop, fail, and withdraw rates
Created and delivered supplemental content for lesson comprehension in and out of classroom

Achievements

First peer in-class tutor on HACC Lancaster Campus
First in-class tutor to support a high-level English class and a blended classroom model

Peer Tutor in Communications & Chemistry

Harrisburg Area Community College | Dec 2016 - May 2019

Diagnosed and remediated student performance for an average of 15 hours per week for 8 semesters
Implemented Socratic questioning, scaffolding, and modeling strategies to support students, particularly ELL and adult learners

Achievements

Developed science writing training for 15+ Writing Center tutors
Supported 10 writing workshops for 3 Rad Tech courses
Developed online educational content for Writing Center Grammar Supplement
Awarded HACC '18 Writing Center Award & '17 National Tutor Award

Private Tutor of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Lancaster County Area, PA, USA | Mar 2019 - Aug 2019

Tutored 3 high schoolers in SAT Writing and Language Test with a score increase of 50+ from baseline

Additional Teaching & Mentorship Experiences

Invited Guest Lecturer

Led discussion in SP23 Literature & the Environment, Rocky Mountain College (MT)
Co-led one soils and one critical zone laboratory in FA22 Forest Ecology, Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Mentorship

2023 | Ryan Gaydos, Penn State undergraduate
- NASA PA Space Grant First Year Undergraduate Research mentee
2021 | Dana Sanchez, undergraduate research assistant
- Society for Wetland Scientists' Multicultural Mentee
2020 - 2022 | Peer mentor to Penn State Ecology graduate students

Professional Development

Trainings from Penn State Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
- 2023 Course for College Teaching
- 2021 Handling Hot Moments & Challenging Situations in Your Course
2021 Inclusive and Critical Mentor Training & Workshop, PSU Ecology

Relevant Presentations

Smith, T., Barnica, J., Zerbe, A., & Kopp, M. (2019). “Embedded Tutoring: Reimagining the Tutor’s Relationship with Faculty and Developmental Writers.” Panel presentation at annual Mid-Atlantic Writing Centers Association (MAWCA) meeting. (Oral).
Smith, T., Barnica, J., Bollinger, N., Zukowsi, J., & Kopp, M. (2018). “Bridging the Gap: Establishing Collaborative Relationships with Developmental Writers through In-Class Tutoring.” Panel presentation at MAWCA. (Oral).