Ashley Henry was a Scientific Teaching Fellow in 2021 while pursuing a PhD in botany. Today, she works at the University of Notre Dame’s Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence. She is the Program Director for Graduate and Postdoc Development, where she helps grad students and postdocs develop their teaching and prepare for the job market. Outside of work, she enjoys reading Agatha Christie novels, building book nooks, and “jammin’ on her planner” a la Leslie Knope.
What was your favorite part of this program?
My favorite part of the program was the structure. We first learned the theory behind good STEM teaching, then we got to build our own course and then teach it. Rarely do you get the opportunity to do all three of these, and it’s helped me immensely in my career!
What was one of the most valuable things you learned as a Fellow?
I learned the value of collaboration. While I haven’t taught with a team since being an STF, I learned how valuable it is to have peers observe my teaching and having a fellow teaching-focused faculty member that I can bounce ideas off of.
What is something surprising or unexpected you experienced as a Fellow?
I was surprised by how long it takes to design, implement, and then revise one class session. Having the summer to design three class sessions helped me realize how long developing a single class takes, and then to also make time to reflect on how I would change it if I were to teach it again.
How have you applied the skills and knowledge from this program in your career?
The Scientific Teaching Fellows program taught me about academic careers that support faculty and helped me pivot my grad school career to be focused on education development. I worked with Dr. Theisen for two years after being a Fellow to continue to aid in the STF program. That role was essential to getting my current position and helped me become a much better instructor.
What excites you about teaching?
I found seeing the lightbulb go off in a student’s head to be the most rewarding part of being a Fellow. Not only was I sharing my favorite subject (plant science) with the students, I got to see them make connections between my class and their other classes and daily lives. They would tell me how they noticed how a leaf changes color from the edges to the veins, and you could see how excited they were to better understand the world around them.
What advice do you have for new Fellows coming into this program?
I would advise new Fellows to “trust the process.” The program will feel overwhelming at times and you will be confused, but most learning comes from those uncomfortable moments. Trust that, with hard work, the course will come together. You will leave the program with a stronger ability to teach and much more evidence for your teaching statement!
Learn more about Scientific Teaching Fellows.