鈥淭eaching is my calling, and at Nazareth, I have the freedom to fully dedicate myself to it. The emphasis on excellence in teaching allows me to engage deeply with students 鈥� both inside and outside the classroom 鈥� fostering individual relationships and providing personalized mentorship. I value the opportunity to support my students鈥� academic and personal growth in a meaningful way. The sense of community among faculty, staff, and students is strong, and I especially love being part of the Religious Studies department. It鈥檚 a truly nurturing and supportive space.鈥�
"I teach courses that explore deep, universal questions, such as questions of human potential, meaning, suffering, and death. I present religion as a repository of human wisdom and traditions 鈥� a resource for grappling with life鈥檚 fundamental questions. Using contemplative pedagogy, I help students develop essential skills to navigate their inner lives while cultivating connection and compassion.
I love teaching the Perspectives and Enduring Questions (PEQ) course Exploring the World鈥檚 Religions, where I introduce students to wisdom traditions from around the world. My upper-division courses include Meaning of Death, Meditation and Mindfulness, Religion and Psychology, Asian Ways of Self-Cultivation, and Spiritual Care, the capstone course for the Spiritual Care minor, which I co-direct. Across all my courses, I help students uncover timeless insights from religious and spiritual traditions that contribute to a meaningful and fulfilling life."
"In my Meaning of Death class, I ask students what metaphors they use for their lives. Some see life as a garden, requiring constant weeding and nurturing. Others view it as a battleground, demanding daily valor and resilience. In recent years, I鈥檝e come to see life as an adventure 鈥� one that wouldn鈥檛 be complete without its challenges, ups and downs, tragedies, and triumphs. Embrace it all. Enjoy it all.
The greatest adventure is to be fully alive 鈥� present to everything with a loving heart and a fearless mind."