Riley Pizza: Educator of the Month June 2023
Riley Pizza, a doctoral candidate in the Department Plant Biology, is named Educator of the Month for June 2023 by The Graduate School.
Riley explains how the role of an educator is not just to tell students what to learn, but to teach them HOW to learn and empower themselves as learners.
"To me, being an educator at a university means taking students on a journey of self-discovery, guiding them to become better learners, more confident people, and more knowledgeable citizens. My belief in the role of educators is rooted in my experiences as a learner."
"As an educator, I hope to promote student's autonomy over their own learning and confidence in themselves, as my educators did for me."
"Just like in my research field, the best educators are those that never stop learning. No matter how much experience you have in the classroom, nor how many awards you earn, you can always improve your teaching skills. By attending teaching professional development opportunities, I gain valuable skills, knowledge, and feedback on my own teaching style. I use those to refine my teaching strategies to ensure I'm providing my students with the best possible learning opportunities."
Riley shares more insights in this month's feature.
