2018-2019 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Winners
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Modern Languages and Linguistics Alexis Chauchois is a third-year doctoral candidate in French in the Modern Languages and Linguistics Department. Alexis was also a Professor in Civil Engineering in France (University of Artois) and in South Korea (Korea University). He received his Ph.D in Civil Engineering at the University of Artois in France and his B.A. & M.A. in French Literature at the Sorbonne-Paris III University in France. Alexis’experience is rich and varied. He taught different subjects in different continents and countries, such as France, South Korea and the United States. His classes consisted of students from various majors, cultures and ethnicity which he perceived as the greatest richness. He has been nominated for the TA award every year for the last 3 years teaching at FSU. Alexis is going to be the Program Assistant for the Intensive French program in France for Summer 2019. Alexis is also an active researcher, with the support of the Winthrop-King Institute. His interests span the 20th and 21st centuries, with a specialization in French & Francophone literature. He is currently writing his thesis on Louis-Ferdinand Céline. He has published "Entrevue avec l’écrivain haïtien Makenzy Orcel", in Journal of Haitian Studies, and "le sang de la mort de Louis-Ferdinand Céline", in Romances Notes. Will be published soon "L’enracinerrance : un pont entre la France et l’Amérique", in Contemporary French & Francophone Studies: SITES and finally "Les bouteilles à la mer de Makenzy Orcel" in The French Review. At Florida State University, Alexis received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in French from the Department of Modern Languages. |
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English Amy Cicchino is a fourth year doctoral candidate in the English department specializing in composition and rhetoric. She received her BA and MA degrees in English from Florida Gulf Coast University and taught high school English for seven years in Southwest Florida before heading to Tallahassee. During her time as a doctoral student, Amy has served as an assistant to the College Composition program, a mentor in the College Composition program, an instructor in both the College Composition and Editing, Writing, and Media programs, and a tutor in the Reading-Writing Center and Digital Studios. In her capacity as Assistant to the College Composition program, Amy works with an administrational team to prepare GTAs to teach writing. In her classroom, she supports students in developing an understanding of writing that can move with them into their majors and, eventually, into their professions. Amy’s dissertation was "Notes Toward a Panoramic View: A National Portrait of GTA Writing Pedagogy Education across Doctoral Programs in Rhetoric and Composition." Following graduation in 2019 Spring, Amy took a position as the Associate Director of University Writing at Auburn University. |
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Deborah Kochman Theatre Deborah Kochman is a sixth year doctoral candidate in the Theatre Studies program and has been an educator for ten years. She received her BA and MA in English from the University of South Florida. Before coming to FSU, she worked at USF Sarasota Manatee as coordinator of Learning Support Services in addition to teaching composition and working as a writing tutor. During her time as a doctoral student, Deborah has taught and mentored incoming freshman to the School of Theatre to prepare them for writing in upper division coursework. She is also an instructor for writing intensive play analysis courses. Deborah’s goal is to prepare students to participate as ethically engaged scholars, artists, and citizens in their community, the workplace, and the world at large. Deborah’s research centers on the intersection of theatre studies, age studies, and trauma theory. She will soon defend her dissertation titled: Violence, Trauma, and Aging: Dramatic Women Escaping the Presumption of Decline. Deborah as presented papers at ATHE, MLA, CDC, and MATC and has served as co-convener for ASTR’s Traumatic Structures working group. She also served on the College of Fine Arts Leadership Counsel as editor of SIX magazine, a publication featuring work from students in the College of Fine Arts. |
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Theatre Jay is in his second year of the MFA Theatre Management program in the School of Theatre. Over the past 10 years he has worked as a director or producer on over 100 productions in Boston and NYC. Jay is thrilled to have the opportunity to translate this experience into his work with undergraduate students in such a meaningful way this year as a teaching assistant. He is currently the managing director of the Southeastern Arts Leadership Educators. Jay attended Salem State University and holds BFA in Theatre Performance. He would like to thank Florida State University, The School of Theatre, and the Program for Instructional Excellence for providing terrific training opportunities to graduate students. Jay would also like to give a huge thank you to Professor Anthony Rhine for his support and mentorship! |
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Biological Science Liz Lange is a 6th year PhD student in the Biological Science Ecology and Evolution program. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Animal Behavior from Canisius College and her M.S. in Biological Sciences from Clemson University. Her dissertation research combines theoretical and empirical approaches to understand how high levels of diversity are maintained. As a teacher, Liz works to quell misconceptions about science by encouraging scientific thinking in a diverse group of future scientists and non-scientists alike. As a biologist, her “classrooms” range from a typical lecture hall to a laboratory to outside in the field. She strongly believes that teaching biology through practical applications regardless of location can enrich a student’s ability to create lifelong knowledge. In addition, she works to bridge the gap between the campus and the public, by participating in science outreach with local K-12 schools and women’s groups. Liz is honored to be a recipient of the 2018-2019 OTTA. |
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Psychology Rasheda Haughbrook is a sixth-year doctoral candidate in Developmental Psychology. She earned an M.S. in Developmental Psychology at FSU, an M.S. in Molecular Cell Biology from Florida A & M University, as well as a B.A. in Psychology from Florida A & M University. She is also a Mcknight Fellow. Rasheda’s general research interests concern understanding the correlates and factors influencing student achievement across all levels of education. She studies the interplay of genetic and environmental influences on various achievement outcomes and is particularly interested in the roles of culture, race, and ethnicity on students’ school experiences. While in graduate school, Rasheda has gained experience teaching Introductory Biology, Child Psychology, and Psychology of the African American, additionally she has had the opportunity to mentor a number of undergraduate students. A major goal for Rasheda in teaching is to encourage her students to challenge their ways of thinking by considering different perspectives, emphasizing a goal to understand the experiences of different cultural groups as well as the perspectives of marginalized people. Rasheda is very passionate about teaching and interacting with the awesome undergraduate students at FSU, and she is incredibly thankful for being acknowledged as an outstanding teaching assistant! |
Alexis Chauchois
Amy Cicchino
John Pension
Liz Lange
Rasheda Haughbrook