I was trained to teach about Buddhism and the religious traditions of East Asia from a variety of perspectives. During my doctoral and postdoctoral training I learned the value of close interaction with students and refined my skills as a teacher in a liberal arts setting. I encourage students to reflect on cosmology, ritual, and philosophy, and to critically engage with concepts such as religion, magic, scripture, and practice across disciplinary boundaries.
My objectives in the classroom have been to teach students ways of critically engaging with primary source materials and to help them articulate their thoughts both in writing and oral presentation. By structuring my courses as student-centered classes and encouraging dialogue, interaction, and teamwork I help students maximize their academic potential and gain transferable skills in organization and research. As my classes include students with diverse abilities and from diverse cultural backgrounds and age groups, I have developed teaching strategies that meet their different needs and perspectives by creating an accessible and inclusive learning experience.
Beyond introductory courses on Buddhism, I also welcome the opportunity to teach courses at other levels. Drawing on my interdisciplinary background and on my training in the study of religion at the University of Michigan, where I worked closely with Professor Tomoko Masuzawa, I am eager to teach such courses as Introduction to the Study of Religion, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion, as well as the senior/capstone seminars. I also welcome the opportunity to design a variety of intermediate courses and graduate seminars on such topics as the Buddha in the Modern World, History of Buddhist Studies, and History of Buddhist Tantra.