Students are not empty vessels to be filled. In the classroom, I put theory into practice and apply the teachings of the Public Health Critical Race Praxis.
Students are invited to question what is “known,” and critically engage with course materials. This includes disciplinary self-critique for the purposes of advancing the field of public health and dismantling systems that do not contribute to the health and well-being of all peoples.
I encourage students to contribute their lived experiences, understanding that all of our stories can serve to enrich the learning environment. Indeed, valuable sources of knowledge are not limited to peer-reviewed articles.
Across my body of work, including my course syllabi, I am committed to citing Black, Indigenous, Scholars of Color, as well as those who do not uphold the status quo. When peer-reviewed citations are needed, I aim to center the work produced by those at the margins.
I have had many diverse teaching experiences. From preschool classrooms, while working for Head Start, to university lecture halls at San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
“Anna-Michelle was born to be a professor [...] She does a great job of making complex material approachable, and has a knack for expressing these ideas in several ways if they don’t land with everyone the first time around.”
“It's so inspiring to get a few glimpses into how her mind works to critically dissect academic material and structures and it gives me hope that the future of public health is in good hands.”
“Anna-Michelle was an amazing TA! She allowed us space in discussion to ask honest questions, and I felt so comfortable making mistakes and being honest about where my knowledge gaps were. [...] Warm and kind, yet definitely down to business, which is my favorite style!”
“Some of her main strengths were 1. Her ability to articulate ideas and concepts in ways that made them extremely easy to understand, 2. Her ability to bring together and integrate different concepts to help students understand how they fit together, 3. Her positive and cheery demeanor that always brings light to the setting/environment.”
Department of Community Health Sciences
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Award Amount: $1,000