Engineering Teaching Consultants (ETCs)

This video answers the following: What kind of GSIs make great ETCs? What do ETCs do? What is the time commitment like as an ETC? What did you take away from being an ETC?

Who are the Engineering Teaching Consultants?

The Engineering Teaching Consultants (ETCs) at Michigan Engineering are a group of experienced Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) who serve as consultants and teaching mentors to the rest of the GSI and IA population in Michigan Engineering. The ETCs are centrally organized through the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and are trained and supervised by staff from the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching in Engineering (CRLT-Engin).

The ETC program was founded on the belief that, in addition to mentoring from faculty, developing GSIs could benefit from the unique guidance, support, and experience that peer mentors provide. This relationship provides a safe venue for the exploration of teaching strategies and discussion of teaching initiatives and issues. ETCs are trained to mentor in a facilitative way, with a collegial style of interaction preferred by most GSIs. The nature of the peer mentor-mentee interaction is such that it benefits both individuals and becomes a valuable learning experience for the ETCs as well.

Could I be an Engineering Teaching Consultant?

If you are a Michigan Engineering graduate student with one or more semesters of engineering teaching experience, you are eligible to become an ETC. Applicants need one semester of teaching experience but, more importantly, a passion for discussing and improving teaching practices. No consulting experience is necessary.

If you are interested in applying but would like to learn more, you can indicate your interest in the ETC program here.

Request a Service

Apply for the ETC Program

Indicate interest in becoming an ETC

EVA ALBALGHITI

ealbalgh@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a PhD candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering, focusing on biomineralization for hydrological and geomechanical modification of the subsurface. I became interested in teaching and peer mentoring as an undergraduate at Yale University, where I worked at the Writing Center and the Academic Strategies Program, the latter of which focused on building “soft skills” for undergraduates from under-resourced high schools and non-traditional backgrounds. I also earned my masters’ degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where I learned a lot about effective communication between people of different native languages and cultural backgrounds. Since coming to UM in 2020, I have GSI’d for CEE 428 (Groundwater Hydrology) and CEE 265 (Intro to Sustainable Engineering). I know that I’m not the only GSI who has faced anxiety and uncertainty around teaching, especially in the pandemic era, and I’m excited to work with my fellow GSIs as we navigate these challenges together.

MARIA FIELDS

fimaria@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a 1st year PhD student in the Industrial and Operations Engineering department. I am passionate about education and am the founder of the non-profit G.R.O.W. (Generate Real Opportunities and Wonder) Tutoring Program, which is also a student organization on campus. I have experience working with students from kindergarten to college, and I have always found it rewarding to work with students. I was on the teaching staff of EECS 280 for eight semesters and served as a UROP facilitator and ENGR 110 facilitator for two years. I am excited to support anyone in their educational journey to achieve their aspirations as students or instructors to be successful!

TOLULOPE (TOLU) LAWAL

lawaltdl@umich.edu

Short Biography

Tolulope (Tolu) Lawal is a PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering and her research focuses on plant fiber processing for sustainable biobased materials. She is a 2021 graduate of Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University and the 2024-2025 president of the Graduate Society of Black Engineers and Scientists (GSBES).

MASON NELSON

nelsontm@umich.edu

Short Biography

Howdy! I’m Mason, a Ph.D. student in Computer Science & Engineering. I work under Professors Ron Dreslinski and Nishil Talati, focusing on Computer Architecture and Parallel Systems. I also completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s at Michigan, and spent 8 terms (4 IA, 4 GSI) on staff with EECS 370 (Introduction to Computer Organization) and one term as a GSI for EECS 470 (Computer Architecture). I really love seeing the “lightbulb moments” in my students, and so I enjoy providing whatever resources and encouragement is necessary to see that through. I’m really excited to hear from you and bolster education practices in the College of Engineering!

TAMARA NELSON-FROMM

tamaranf@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science and Engineering. My research is in computing education, specifically why and how non-CS majors learn about programming. I have been a GSI for EECS 183 (Programming Concepts) and EECS 493 (User Interfaces) at University of Michigan, as well as a Data Structures TA at University of Illinois, and a former instructor and director at a programming-focused summer camp. Through my teaching and research I have experience in running lab sections, lecturing, developing course materials and assignments, grading, and creating fun STEM activities. I’m looking forward to leveraging my experience and pedagogical knowledge to aid GSIs and IAs in their teaching practice!

DENNIS NIKOLOV

dnikolov@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a 4th-year PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering. My research focuses on characterizing material properties of soft materials via full-field measurements, and experimental optimization of material testing. I have been a GSI for MECHENG 211 twice (Introduction to Solid Mechanics), MECHENG 382 (Mechanical Behavior of Materials), and MECHENG 235 (Thermodynamics). Additionally, I work with the Center for Socially-Engaged Design (C-SED) on implementing DEI problem-based learning in the mechanical engineering curriculum with the intention to incorporate ethics and societal impact in all ME courses. I have served as both the outreach and mentorship chair for the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Council (MEGC), and am still associated with MEGC and the engineering outreach community, including becoming a Summer Engineering Exploration (SEE) camp counselor that’s run by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). I’ve worked with the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) to mentor incoming underrepresented engineering undergraduates interested in pursuing graduate research, as well as the many undergraduate students that have been in my research lab. Since taking ENGR 580 (Teaching Engineering), I have strived to become the best possible instructor I can be, with a particular focus on effective mentoring, equity-centered teaching, and inclusive learning. I am extremely excited to be of any help to the incoming GSI/IA community.

MELINA O’DELL

melodell@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a Master’s student in the Computer Science and Engineering department. I am a long-standing IA/GSI for EECS 485 (Web Systems) and have lots of experience teaching lab sections, holding office hours, giving lectures, and improving and maintaining course materials (most notably, developing programming projects and managing the Autograder). I’ve also done computing education research, looking at if and how generative AI can be used as a supplemental course resource. I am passionate about teaching and learning about teaching, and I hope to share my experiences to support other GSIs and IAs.

EMILY SHEETZ

esheetz@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering. My research focuses on artificial intelligence and robotics, specifically how to improve robot manipulation through more advanced reasoning over actions and robust action execution. As an undergraduate at Monmouth College, I helped run computer science labs and served as the general computer science subject tutor. At the University of Michigan, I have served as a GSI for EECS–492 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence and EECS–203 Discrete Math, and I tutor undergraduate mathematics and computer science courses through the Academic Success Program. I believe STEM education needs to be more diverse and inclusive, specifically for underrepresented groups of students, in order to provide the best educational experience that allows students to succeed. We as student instructors can affect these positive changes for our students, and as an ETC, I am looking forward to providing support for GSIs so we can provide a better educational experience.

BETSY STREHL

estrehl@umich.edu

Short Biography

Hello! I am a PhD candidate in the Engineering Education Research program, and my research focuses on supporting engineering students from lower-income backgrounds. Specifically, I focus on how socioeconomic status (SES) impacts the engineering student experience and what resources are needed for students to thrive in engineering. I received my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from U-M in 2019, and TA’d a BME 499 (Medical Device Product Development) section while here as a student. After graduating, I spent several years teaching high school mathematics and engineering in rural New Mexico where I learned a lot about educational systems and instruction. Since returning to U-M as a graduate student, I’ve worked facilitating classroom discussions both as a part of my research and through my work with C-SED and the Office of Community, Culture, & Equity in the College of Engineering

JINGFENG WU

jingfeng@umich.edu

Short Biography

I am a PhD student in Engineering Education Research. My research focuses are 1) the integration of socio-technical skill sets into engineering programs, 2) equitable teaching in writing intensive engineering labs. In my previous graduate program in Canada, I served as a Teaching Assistant in the Chemical Engineering department at University of Calgary for a graduate level statistics course and an undergraduate level course related to Chemical Engineering Process. My teaching responsibilities include grading, holding office hours, supporting students doing lab work, and providing students’ feedback to instructors. Since I’m originally from China, I’ve also enjoyed teaching/mentoring multicultural community members of all age groups, including K12 students, college students, and the seniors. Throughout my teaching journey, I’ve always strived to provide an inclusive environment for diverse learners in order to help them achieve personal and professional goals. I’m excited to be part of the ETC program where I could continue to help students (GSI/IAs) develop their teaching skills at UofM.