SAFS Lead TA

My name is Lisa Crosson and I am the SAFS Lead TA for the 2008-2010 academic years. I am a graduate student working with Dr. Carolyn Friedman to research aquatic animal health and diseases. I have had the opportunity to TA three courses while at SAFS and have greatly enjoyed my experience working in the classroom.

My job as the SAFS Lead TA is to make resources available to graduate student TAs and to facilitate the teaching experience of those students.  In order to do this, I organize an annual TA training workshop held at the beginning of fall quarter and quarterly TA discussion meetings for all interested SAFS graduate students. Additionally, I communicate regularly with SAFS graduate students regarding events, technology, and resources available to them at SAFS, UW, and elsewhere.  We are very lucky to work in a department and a University that values teaching so highly and provides so much support to help us better facilitate learning.

TA responsibilities vary widely in our department—from leading laboratory sections, to running discussion sections, to designing and grading assignments, to giving course lectures. I am here to help prepare you for these roles, to connect you with various resources on campus, to observe your teaching and give you feedback—essentially, I am here to facilitate your teaching in any way possible.

TAs have a tremendous impact on the experience and success of the students they teach. As TAs, we may be more approachable and accessible than professors, and students can become quite reliant on our feedback and guidance.  This guidance can not only impact a student's performance in the class, but may help to shape the student's future.  Thus, regardless of the reason that a graduate student takes a TA position (e.g., teaching experience, salary support, resume development), this role must be taken seriously and performed responsibly.  I will work hard to positively contribute to my fellow SAFS TAs who take on this important responsibility.

Please feel free to contact me if I can help you in any way.

Lisa Crosson
lisa418@u.washington.edu
206-708-9241 (cell) 206-616-6341 (office)
School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
University of Washington
Box 355020
Seattle, WA 98195

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