Courses & Community Work
SOCL 2501: Social Problems
I currently teach this course for students in the HSSRC, first year students majoring in the Humanities and Social Sciences who live and take classes within the same dorm community. This class takes a subjectivist / constructionist approach, viewing troubling conditions through the lens of the social process they go through to become defined as social problems. Students write a series of essays on a topic (problem) of choice that in which they move step-by-step through this "social problems process" and apply key concepts from the course. Students have the opportunity to earn service-learning credit by completing a minimum of 10 service hours with a local community organization. Course syllabus.
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La Mesa
In 2022, I partnered with a small team from St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to cofound La Mesa, a language-learning and cultural exchange program. La Mesa offers native English speakers the opportunity to learn Spanish and native Spanish speakers the opportunity to learn English; after classes, students share a meal together to practice their language skills and develop friendships. It is these relationships that are formed at the table ("la mesa," in Spanish) that are central to the program. After one year of planning and development, La Mesa began offering classes in January 2023. In February 2024, La Mesa began partnering with CCELL at LSU to become a service-learning site for LSU students. I am continuing to provide leadership for La Mesa, coordinating LSU student volunteers, and teaching the Level 2 English classes.
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Gardere Soccer
In 2015, I partnered with the Gardere Youth Alliance, Iglesia Aposento Alto, and the Baton Rouge Soccer Club to cofound a neighborhood soccer program for youth living in the Gardere community in Baton Rouge. We have 4-5 Gardere-based teams competing in Baton Rouge Soccer Club programs year-round. Currently, our teams include K-2nd grade, 3-4th grade, 4-5th grade, middle school, and high school. I provide program administration; serve as a bridge between the neighborhood leaders and club staff; coach teams as needed; connect LSU students with service opportunities; and oversee a small group of high school athletes who have transitioned from our recreational neighborhood teams to the Baton Rouge Soccer Club's competitive division. Through this program I have developed mentoring relationships with many young people and had the opportunity to be a part of their lives for 8+ years. Some of the youth who began competing with us in the first few years are now in college.
