As Course Developer and Instructor
2022 & 2021 Decolonizing Environmental Social Science in Palau - Ebiil Society, Palau; Co-Developer and Instructor
"Participation in this program has allowed me to dig further into where I originally come from and more about my culture. With this opportunity, I was able to learn a new set of skills that I may use in the future. I believe writing this book with my fellow youth researchers will shed light on the life of a Mesekiu and our traditional ways. It gives us an opportunity to pass down our knowledge to the next generation, so they too can experience the wonders of the Palau waters. I also would like to share about how kind and accepting our interviewees were, as they opened their doors to us with generosity and gave us the opportunity to borrow their knowledge and use it in a humble and positive way."
- In collaboration with Palauan partners and using the Decolonizing Methodologies (Smith 1999) framework, we are educating Palauan high school students on interviewing as a method for research and a tool for education.
- Training in social science interviewing, Indigenous epistemologies, and video production.
- Final projects: filmed and edited short films about Palauan fishing and farming traditions (2021), co-wrote a book about dugong oral histories, behaviors, hunting practices, and conservation in Palau (2022).
"Participation in this program has allowed me to dig further into where I originally come from and more about my culture. With this opportunity, I was able to learn a new set of skills that I may use in the future. I believe writing this book with my fellow youth researchers will shed light on the life of a Mesekiu and our traditional ways. It gives us an opportunity to pass down our knowledge to the next generation, so they too can experience the wonders of the Palau waters. I also would like to share about how kind and accepting our interviewees were, as they opened their doors to us with generosity and gave us the opportunity to borrow their knowledge and use it in a humble and positive way."
2021 Topics in International Justice, Rights & the Environment (ENVRES & HUMRTS 215A) - Stanford, Co-Developer and Instructor
- Topics include: marine justice, climate justice and ethics, environmental racism, social movements, resource degradation, and neoliberal conservation.
- Through guest lectures, student-led discussions, readings, and creative writing, students will engage with cutting-edge research on these topics.
2020 Social Science Research Methods in Environmental Studies (ENSTU 350) – CSU Monterey Bay, Lecturer
- Required lab and seminar for Environmental Studies majors at CSUMB. Taught online due to COVID-19.
- Topics include: research ethics, research questions, sampling, interviewing, survey design, focus groups, Photovoice, report writing, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
- For our final project, students developed a zine together on their relationships with the local environment.
"The way Caroline taught Research Methods this semester was absolutely amazing. It's nice to be excited about a class and the materials in it, and I think this was only possible because Caroline was my teacher. She's also one of the nicest people I've met (virtually) and it was so enjoyable being in her class and being around her positive energy. I think Caroline 100% does what is best for her students and I really appreciate all the effort she put in this semester. I feel like after her class I am more prepared for the future and whatever my profession may be - I am really grateful her class gave me that confidence!!"
2020 The Social Ocean: Human Dimensions of Marine and Coastal Challenges (ENVRES 220) – Stanford, Co-Developer and Instructor
- Graduate-level Stanford course. Topics include: community-based fisheries management, human rights abuses on the high seas, communicating ocean challenges through art, and market-based solutions to aquaculture challenges.
- Co-developed and instructed with Meghan Shea (E-IPER PhD student); faculty advisor: Larry Crowder.
"Stanford University is filled with dedicated, wonderful professors and instructors. Despite this, Meghan and Caroline stand out to me. I've never had instructors so willing to meet with students and talk to them about anything! My life is truly different because of these two remarkable individuals. When I get my PhD. and look back on all the incredible people who helped me along the way, Meghan and Caroline will be on the "all-stars" team in my mind."
2020 American Empire in the Pacific (INTNLREL 175) – Stanford, Co-Developer and Instructor
- We were invited to teach this class a second time, this time online!
- Undergraduate Stanford course. Topics include: the annexation of Hawai’i, militarization of Guam, nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, and decolonization movements across Oceania.
- Co-developed and instructed with Autumn Bordner (Berkeley Law Fellow).
"This was the one class that I felt adapted best to the crazy quarter that we had. Autumn and Caroline were very flexible and we still learned a lot. This class teaches you so much important information. I especially appreciate how Caroline and Autumn supported us as we learned about shocking history that can be difficult to process."
2019 American Empire in the Pacific (INTNLREL 175) – Stanford, Co-Developer and Instructor
"This class was one of the most profound classes in my education. I'm taking from this class a new career trajectory that opens the potential to do graduate work in the field of Pacific Studies. Caroline and Autumn treated the course area of empire in the pacific in a phenomenal fashion. As a pacific islander student, they opened my eyes to topics I hadn't been exposed to about my home. I really appreciated their expertise and shared work experience in the Pacific. It was inspiring and nourishing, to say the least."
"AMAZING COURSE. CAN'T LOVE IT ENOUGH"
"I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing first cohort of students to take this course."
"TAKE THIS COURSE!!! there is so much to learn!!! encourage your friends to take it!!! everyone should know more about this!!"
"If you're a pacific student--definitely take this course. It will teach you things about home. If you're curious about the Pacific, take this course and be blown away by the breadth and beauty of oceania and america's secret imperial project."
"This class was one of the most profound classes in my education. I'm taking from this class a new career trajectory that opens the potential to do graduate work in the field of Pacific Studies. Caroline and Autumn treated the course area of empire in the pacific in a phenomenal fashion. As a pacific islander student, they opened my eyes to topics I hadn't been exposed to about my home. I really appreciated their expertise and shared work experience in the Pacific. It was inspiring and nourishing, to say the least."
"AMAZING COURSE. CAN'T LOVE IT ENOUGH"
"I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing first cohort of students to take this course."
"TAKE THIS COURSE!!! there is so much to learn!!! encourage your friends to take it!!! everyone should know more about this!!"
"If you're a pacific student--definitely take this course. It will teach you things about home. If you're curious about the Pacific, take this course and be blown away by the breadth and beauty of oceania and america's secret imperial project."
Field Seminars
2019 Coral Reefs of Palau: Marine Environment, Ecology and Management – Seminar Assistant
"Caroline taught me so much about the communities in Palau, and how it is so important for us as foreign researchers to reach out to them and learn from them and their knowledge rather than relying on ourselves."
"I learned to love science!"
"energetic" "approachability" "Unparalleled enthusiasm and a positive mindset" "passionate" "patience" "caringness" "kindness and compassion"
2018 Conservation and Evolution in the Galápagos – Sophomore College Assistant
- https://undergrad.stanford.edu/programs/bosp/explore/overseas-seminars-faculty-initiated-programs/explore-seminar-locations/1198-Palau
- Assisted Prof. Rob Dunbar, Stephen Monismith, and Bob Richmond (U Hawaii) in teaching Stanford and Palau Community College students for 3 weeks of field-based learning in Palau.
"Caroline taught me so much about the communities in Palau, and how it is so important for us as foreign researchers to reach out to them and learn from them and their knowledge rather than relying on ourselves."
"I learned to love science!"
"energetic" "approachability" "Unparalleled enthusiasm and a positive mindset" "passionate" "patience" "caringness" "kindness and compassion"
2018 Conservation and Evolution in the Galápagos – Sophomore College Assistant
- https://socobilldurham.stanford.edu/gal%C3%A1pagos/2018-seminar
- Combined roles of Teaching Assistant (TA) and Resident Assistant (RA) for 3-week residential program for Stanford sophomores and alumni, including 10 days shipboard in the Galápagos.
Mentoring
2020-21 Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning - Graduate Teaching Consultant
2018-19 Stanford Women’s Community Center – Graduate Program Coordinator
2015-16 Watsonville Area Teens Conserving Habitat (WATCH) – Science Mentor
2013-14 Bing Overseas Studies Program, Stanford – Student Advisor for Stanford Program in Australia
- Advise graduate student instructors and TAs on creating effective and equitable lessons.
- Equity-based teaching, learner-centric approaches, and backwards course design.
2018-19 Stanford Women’s Community Center – Graduate Program Coordinator
- Organize events and create a space to meet the needs of graduate students at Stanford of all gender identities, with a focus on feminist issues and the challenges women face in academia.
- Awarded the Stanford University Community Impact Award for contributions to the Women's Community Center.
2015-16 Watsonville Area Teens Conserving Habitat (WATCH) – Science Mentor
- Mentored a team of four young women from a local underserved high school with a yearlong research project on zooplankton responses to nutrient flooding.
- Assisted in crafting a research question, designing a methodology, collecting data, interpreting results, and sharing findings with their broader community at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
2013-14 Bing Overseas Studies Program, Stanford – Student Advisor for Stanford Program in Australia
- Mentored students going abroad, many for the first time. Provided support for logistics (i.e. visas, passports) and emotional needs (i.e. homesickness, loneliness, reverse culture shock).