Teaching and Academic Leadership
As an Associate Professor in the School of Design Strategies at Parsons School of Design, a college at the New School University in New York City, I teach across undergraduate and graduate programs, both online and in person. My portfolio of core courses includes Strategic Design Capstone Studios, Design Research, Managing Creative Projects and Teams, Strategic Design in New Economies, Creative and Entrepreneurship, Intro to Impact Entrepreneurship, Venture Lab Course, and a graduate elective on Reimagining Startup Ecosystems.
As an educator, program builder, and design strategist, I believe it’s as essential to be a great teacher as it is to build a world-class program.
Academic leadership requires balancing micro-level mentorship with macro-level vision, bringing people and ideas together, recruiting exceptional faculty, and inspiring students to shape the kind of innovative cultures that forward-thinking companies seek to engage with.
I currently serve as Co-Director of the Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative and Fellowship Program at The New School (2024-present), which supports graduate students building ventures that address pressing social and environmental challenges. The program cultivates a new generation of impact entrepreneurs by combining experiential learning, venture support, and systems-level thinking.
In 2012, I helped launch the Strategic Design and Management Master's Degree at Parsons, co-directed it from 2015 to 2018, and I currently serve as a member of the teaching and admissions team. This graduate program brings together business professionals from across sectors, designers, and aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world to explore the intersection of design, strategy, and innovation. In its first four years, it grew from 30 to over 250 students, with a diverse student body that is predominantly international, comprising a significant number of women. So I lean into mentorship as a central part of my teaching philosophy. Alumni Stories ↗
Field Trip to Deloitte's HQ
Additionally, in 2020, I served as Associate Director of the BBA in Strategic Design and Management, one of the largest undergraduate programs in the university, before going on sabbatical. This interdisciplinary undergraduate program prepares students for leadership in design-driven industries through a curriculum focused on systems thinking, product and service innovation, finance, ethics, and sustainability.
I am the Founder and Director of the Parsons Entrepreneurs Lab (2014-present) to support students and alumni from across the university who are looking to launch, providing them with warm introductions to the New York City innovation ecosystem.
I am a Co-chair of The Faculty Senate (24-present) and a faculty member on the Board of Trustees (2025-26) at The New School University where I am dedicated to shared governance.
As the Associate Professor of Strategic Design and Management at Parsons School of Design, School of Design Strategies - I teach across undergraduate and graduate levels, both online and onsite, and across programs including:
Pedagogical Approach
Pedagogically, I approach teaching and learning experientially, through project-based collaboration, peer-to-peer engagement, and real-world case studies, working in a studio and workshop style that incorporates lectures, guest speakers, field trips, and other engaging activities to create a dynamic, interactive learning environment where innovation can flourish and trust can be built. At the core of my practice is a deep commitment to helping students discover their voice, build confidence, and develop the capacity to become ethical and creative leaders in a changing world.
“For me, it’s about reaching each student in a meaningful way—seeing the lightbulb go on, confidence emerge, and passing the baton to the next generation of change-makers.”
Experiential and project-based learning
Case studies, real-world collaborations, and inverted classrooms
Peer-to-peer exchange, co-creative, systems thinking, and collective good approach with reflective practices
Focus on empowering each student’s unique creative voice
Field trips and guest speakers bridging to the wider ecosystem
Courses
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Experiential Studios: BBA Capstone Studio 1 & 2, Graduate Strategic Design Studio + Design Research, Intro to Impact Entrepreneurial, Venture Lab Studio, Reimagining startup Ecosystems
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Seminars: Managing Creative Projects + Teams, Marketing, Creatives & Entrepreneurship, Strategic Design in New Economies
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Portfolio & Research: Design Research 2, Portfolio Strategies