To The Genetics and Education Fellowship Selection Committee: I am writing to apply for The American Society of Human Genetics 2016 Genetics and Education Fellowship. My first real encounter with genetics was during a Summer Research Experience (REU) for Undergraduates at James Madison University in 2008 during a presentation on BRCA1 mutations in breast cancer. I learned little. In fact, many of the REU scholars left feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by both genetics and cancer research. Surprisingly, that overwhelming feeling stimulated much curiosity about genetics. In 2009, I began graduate studies at Howard University in the Department of Genetics and Human Genetics. Currently, I am preparing to defend my dissertation studies on …show more content…
This becomes increasingly important in STEM disciplines, as our world is continuously shaped by scientific discoveries. Genetics is at the forefront of the many scientific breakthroughs. However, genetics is one of the few subjects that repulse students with challenging concepts and principles that are often overly complicated by worn pedagogy and curriculum. As a teaching assistant in the Department of Biology at Howard University, I have witnessed this firsthand. There is a conviction to ensure that my student’s experience with genetics is not similar to the one I had in 2008. For this reason, I have been actively involved in the developing and implementing creative ways to engage students. From the use of technology in instruction to the implementation of field experience exercises, all of which have positively improved student learning for a diverse group of learners. Furthermore, I constantly challenge myself to prepare exercises and assignments that help students make connections across various …show more content…
The CIRTL Networks mission is to improve undergraduate education, especially in STEM disciplines. One way in which this is accomplished is through teaching-as-research (TAR). As a participant in the CIRTL Network and an Alliance for Graduate Education in the Professoriate (AGEP) fellow, I have been an active participant in the development and implementation of a number of TAR projects to enhance student learning in STEM, such as identifying methods to improve study methods for Biology 102 students. These experiences have nurtured my passion for STEM education and have revealed the need for innovative instruction to improve student