Sarah Larson, Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Nutrition (College of Health Sciences), is ATL’s February 2024 Faculty Spotlight.
What is your proudest teaching moment of the last year?
I have the unique opportunity to work with students from their first semester to their last in my role in the Nutrition department. I always feel the proudest when students come to me to tell me they got accepted into their dream internship, graduate program, or job. The years of growth and preparation paid off and I love that they are so excited to share the news with me.
What is one piece of teaching advice that you have received that you would like to pass on to others?
Be open to incorporating new practices or activities in the classroom but do not be discouraged if they do not work! There is always an opportunity to modify or start over.
What are you excited to do next in the classroom?
I’m looking forward to incorporating more of the diverse food culture of RI into my food science courses. We may be small, but there are so many unique food traditions and recipes to explore.
What do you hope students look back on in ten years and say about your class(es)?
I’d love for students to look back on their experiences with me and think that I was supportive, available, and encouraging. Of course I hope they remember what they learned in the course, but to me, forming relationships with the students that extend outside of the classroom is even more important.
What is a time when an assignment/activity did not go as planned, and how did you make it a teachable moment? What did you learn about yourself?
The biggest learning experience I’ve had in the classroom was switching teaching modalities for a course from face to face to hybrid. It seemed like a great idea and the students were all for it, but in reality, it did not go well at all. There was so much disconnection between myself, the students and the material. Luckily, this was in a 2 semester course so I was able to switch back to full face to face in the spring semester. This reinforced the importance of constant communication with students and actually implementing their suggestions. Had I not talked with them so frequently about the course, I never would have known it wasn’t working at all for them!
Share your favorite place to go in Rhode Island? Why is this your favorite place?
My favorite place in RI is Matunuck! My family spends a lot of time there every summer, my kids love to swim and be with their cousins, and it’s a great place to relax.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to read, figure skate, paint, and decorate cookies for my small company Ten Thousand Spoons.