Teaching Dossier

I have a strong belief that one of best approaches to learning is through hands-on experiences. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to co-create learning experiences that center core data science practice and natural history - equipping students with the confidence to lead independent research projects in their own lives.

Teaching Experience

Formal Roles
  • Lead Data Science Instructor - Maine Field Experience
    Immaculata University (2022, 2023)
  • Laboratory Consultant - Global Change Ecology
    Georgetown University (2021, 2022)
  • Graduate Teaching Fellow - Global Change Ecology/General Ecology
    Georgetown University (2019, 2020)
Guest Lecturing
  • Pacific Northwest College of Art and Design (2022)
  • Drexel University (2022)
  • Georgetown University (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)

Student and Colleague Feedback

  • "I thought Vaughn's lecture and review sessions were very well done - he is very good at breaking things down to explain them and making sure students are with him along the way. I also appreciated his clear enthusiasm for ecology!" (Student | Ecology 2019)
  • "Vaughn's lecture was well-paced and clear. He is obviously passionate about his work and makes the topic more stimulating for students. He is very helpful in review sessions and if I didn't have class during his office hours I would have liked to attend those." (Student | Ecology 2019)
  • "Vaughn took the initiative to offer a review session the night before exams, and other than a 5-minute run-through of potential answers to posted practice questions did all of the preparation for this. I certainly appreciated their willingness to take this on, and each session had more students than the previous one so word clearly spread among the students that this was a useful study aid." (Teaching Professor | Ecology 2019)
  • "I really liked learning in the lab portion of this class. ...I liked seeing the applications of the work we were going over in class and appreciated that most of the assignments were able to be finished within class time." (Student | Global Change Ecology 2019)
Formal Evaluation Ratings:
  • Overall preparedness/knowledge: 4.6 out of 5
  • Fairness in assessment: 4.8 out of 5
  • Provided helpful feedback: 4.6 out of 5