I strive to be an excellent teacher and mentor. In 2021, UCLA awarded me the Schechtman Award in Recognition of Outstanding Service as a Teaching Associate.
Teaching Experience
Courses taught
Courses taught
Courses taught
12 quarters
2 semesters
22 sections of teaching experience
Teaching evaluation mean: 8.5/10 (+/- 0.4 SD)
Guest Lecture, UCLA
1 hr 15 minute lecture on sensory biology and biomechanics of fishes
Teaching Associate, UCLA
Spring 2020 Introduction to Marine Science Lab 109L
Winter 2020 Animal Physiology Lab 170
Fall 2019 Introduction to Marine Science 109
Winter 2019 Animal Physiology Lab 170
Winter 2018 Vertebrate Morphology and Biomechanics Lab 110
Spring 2018 Systematics 130
Teaching Assistant, UCLA
Fall 2017 Introduction to Marine Science Lab 109L
Summer 2017 Session C Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity LS1
Summer 2017 Session A Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity LS1
Spring 2017 Introduction to the Oceans 25
Winter 2017 Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity LS1
Fall 2016 Introduction to Marine Science 109
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, UNC-Wilmington
Spring 2016 Ichthyology Lab
Fall/Spring 2016 Ichthyology Lab
Instructor, Center for Marine Science, NC
June 2014- August 2014 MarineQuest
Marine Biology Summer Camp, teaching and developing interactive marine science lesson plans for elementary and middle school students
Mentorship
Courses taught
Courses taught
Students directly mentored:
Raneesh Ramarapu (2020-Present): direct mentor for undergraduate honors thesis
Elva Garcia Vela (2019-2020): independent research project
Melissa Vasquez (2016-2019): introduction to lab work (morphometrics, collections) and coding (R)
2019-Present Outreach Associate for the Journal of Integrative and Organismal Biology (IOB)
Description: Writing inclusive blog posts to summarize recently published journal articles
2018-2020 Building Engineers and Mentors (BEAM)
Description: Weekly visits to underrepresented elementary student’s classroom to teach fun science and engineering-based activities
2017-2018 Minds Matter Mentor
Description: Mentor a low-income high school student as they transition to a university
outreach
Courses taught
student anonymous evaluations
2018, 2019 Exploring Your Universe with BNC
Description: Largest UCLA Science Festival open to the public, catered towards elementary and middle school kids, run and design EEB Booth
2018 iDigBio UCLA Representative
Description: NSF funded “Broadening Diversity Workshop” with the goal of introducing undergraduate students, especially those in underrepresented populations, to museum and biodiversity science careers
2014-2016 Coastal Erosion Outreach Intern
Description: Inform the public and local benefactors of coastal erosion issues and marsh ecosystem services; lead citizen scientists on oyster reef building event
2013-2014 Aquarium Education Volunteer Fort Fisher Aquarium, Fort Fisher, NC
Description: Supervise select exhibits and basic marine life care; teach guests about marine life throughout the aquarium
student anonymous evaluations
student anonymous evaluations
student anonymous evaluations
"I really enjoyed having Kelsi as a TA, she was refreshing in the sense that she really cared if we were understanding the material. Sometimes we would get stuck on topics, but she would help us get through the question by asking us smaller questions till we understood the bigger picture. I never felt like I didn't know enough coming into discussion, and always left learning more. Thank you Kelsi."
student anonymous evaluations
"Kelsi is really knowledgeable about the source material and her enthusiasm for biology translates very well into the class assignments and atmosphere as a whole. She is extremely approachable and is willing to go above and beyond to aid in the understanding of lab procedures, conclusions, and integration to the course material."
student anonymous evaluations
"Kelsi is a great TA. She cares about the subject matter of the course and her students. Her section was great because it was structured for efficiency but also very interactive and conducive to student
learning. She is one of the best TAs I've had here at UCLA."