I received the 2011 UK Higher Education Academy (HEA) National Psychology Postgraduate Teaching Award given to one person in the UK annually for making a significant impact through excellence in teaching, supporting students, and making a positive impact on the community. My faculty nominator Professor Martyn Barrett and student nominator Alexander Eckardt described my teaching here.
I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching (PGCert) at the Centre for Educational and Academic Development. In addition to teaching undergraduate and Master's level students, I have conducted numerous community health workshops, professional training sessions, and accredited CPD courses for medical and mental health clinicians.
I view teaching as more than ‘knowledge transmission’. My teaching involves the co-creation of dynamic learning environments. As noted by influential Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, education has the potential to liberate, empower, and transform people’s lives. As part of my commitment to this vision of transformative education, I use a variety of creative methods to engage people in critical thinking; encourage them to understand taken-for-granted aspects of the world in new ways; facilitate new skills development; and guide people to apply these skills in practical contexts. My methods include problem-based learning activities, interactive lectures, discussions, small group simulation activities, innovative social design projects, and reflective student journals.
My duties at the University of Surrey included supporting students with additional learning needs for the Additional Learning Support Office (ALS). These students inspired me and taught me valuable insights in their efforts to challenge disablism and to overcome structural barriers to academic success.
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Last updated: 12/08/12
Clinical teaching experience
**In addition to the clinical teaching listed here, I collaborated with clinical professionals in a series of health promotion workshops in community settings. A complete list is available upon request.**
2012, August. "Reducing Cisgenderisms in Relationship and Family Therapy: Strategies and insights for improving practice." Training for counsellors, mental health clinicians, and therapists. University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
2012, July. “Working with sadness and bereavement.” Training for nursing staff at Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) on behalf of RSCH Psychiatric Liaison Team. Guildford, Surrey, UK.
2008, May. “Safe haven: Making homeless shelter services work for trans, gender variant, and intersex people.” Training for clinical and shelter services staff. Crossroads Rhode Island. Providence, RI, USA.
2008, February. “Therapy with GLB/TGI clients: Raising clinician awareness and identifying treatment approaches.” Training day for 6 Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists. Co-presented with Dr Liz Cantor and Stump Olsen for Psychological Ctrs, Inc./URI Counseling Ctr Training Program. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, December. “Providing quality care: Meeting diverse mental health needs of trans, gender variant, and intersex (TGI) people at ICC.” Training for clinical staff at Interfaith Counseling Centre, Rhode Island State Council of Churches. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, November. “Providing quality care: Meeting diverse mental health needs of TGI people at CCAP.” Training for mental health casework staff at CCAP Clinics. Cranston, RI, USA.
2007, October. “Providing quality care to TGI people with HIV.” Training for clinical mental health staff at AIDS Care Ocean State. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, September. Infectious disease prevention and harm reduction with trans and intersex patients. Co-presented with Dr Josiah Rich. Training for clinical staff at Division of Infectious Diseases, The Miriam Hospital. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, September. “Effective harm reduction and prevention with transgender, transsexual, gender variant, and intersex individuals.” Training for clinical staff at Community Access and Project Bridge, an outreach and case management program for HIV-positive individuals exiting the prison system, The Miriam Hospital. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, August. “Lifelines: Fundamentals of pediatric care for trans and intersex patients.” Grand Round for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit (1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit). Co-presented with Drs Norman Spack and Josiah Rich. Grand Rounds, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Pediatrics Division of Rhode Island Hospital. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, May. “Providing quality HIV and STD/STI prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services to TGI individuals.” Training for clinical staff at Whitmarsh House STD Clinic. Providence, RI, USA.
2007, March. “Cultural and clinical competency for dental, medical, mental health and administrative professionals.” Training for clinical staff and administrators at CCAP Clinics, Cranston, RI, USA.
Academic teaching experience
**A complete list of invited lectures and professional trainings is available upon request.**
Fall 2012 Visiting Lecturer, Psychology of Gender and Psychology of Sadness, Warsaw International Studies in Psychology (WISP), University of Warsaw, Poland. (Forthcoming.)
Fall 2011 Academic Tutor, Developmental Psychology Research Methods, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK.
Fall 2011 Contributing Lecturer, PSY 3090 Social and Personality Development, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK.
Fall 2011 Visiting Lecturer, Psychology of Sadness, Warsaw International Studies in Psychology (WISP), University of Warsaw, Poland.
Spring 2011 Contributing Lecturer, PSY 3061 Psychology of Gender, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK.
2006 Teaching Assistant, Gender, Relationships, and Social Influence: An Introduction to Social Psychology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
2006-2008 Trainer of Training Instructors and Curriculum Team Writer, Keshet Safe Schools Initiative, Keshet, Jamaica Plain, MA, USA.
2001-2004 Instructor, Introduction to Religious Philosophy and Practice, Tiferet, Keshet, Jamaica Plain, MA, USA.
1999-2000 Tutor, English as a Second Language (ESL) for New Americans, Amherst Public Library, Amherst, MA, USA.
1998 Co-Instructor, Bilingual Spanish-English Creative Writing and Art, Making Lines Florence Heights: Puerto Rican and Native Taino Heritage Neighbourhood After-School Program, Florence, MA, USA.
Research Supervision
2012 Research Advisory Board Member for McNeil, J., Morton, J., Ellis, S. & Bailey, L (2012). Transgender Mental Health and Well-Being. Scotland, UK.
2007-2008 Evaluation Supervisor, Gender Minority Elder Care (GMEC) Research Advisory Committee, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.
2006-2008 Member, Trans Research Advisory Council; Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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