Teaching Philosophy

As a professor, my main goal is to provide students with practical experience essential for building a successful career.  In addition to providing the “nuts and bolts" of a subject, I encourage students to apply traditional knowledge to innovative approaches through applied research and hands-on experience.  I aspire to motivate students by fostering participation in unique learning opportunities, many of which are provided by local companies, agencies, and vendors willing to share their services and expertise. 

Through private and government grants and contracts, I am able to provide multiple funding opportunities to my students, allowing them the means to spend more time on their academic studies and also providing experience through field-related projects.  My main research focus is groundwater hydrology and hydrogeology of arid environments.  Most of my students directly participate in this research and are able to obtain either Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees through individual projects for which they are responsible. 

I encourage my students to actively participate in professional organizations in order to build strategic partnerships and create a broad reaching network of individuals and indispensable resources.  Further, I encourage students to present abstracts and posters at local and national conferences and to publish their research as much as possible in order to stimulate educated discussions with their peers and accomplished professionals. 

The best way to measure the effectiveness of my objectives and to judge my goals is to elicit student feedback and evaluation.  I am consistently rated very high by my students in their end of semester assessments.  My biggest reward as a teacher is a lasting professional and personal relationship with my students.  I enjoy working with and supporting students through their academic careers and feel honored when they graduate with a professional degree.