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F. Elaine Donelson Chair of Psychology and Religion
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Rhodes College

Teaching Philosophy
Sierra views teaching and mentorship as an opportunity to provide students with a set of tools that will help them navigate the world effectively. To accomplish this goal, Sierra's teaching philosophy is centered around (a) promoting life-long learning by encouraging students to apply concepts to their own lives, (b) facilitating the development of critical thinking skills and an appreciation for
psychology as a science, and (c) fostering an enthusiastic, comfortable, and
inclusive learning environment for students from all backgrounds. Moreover, she draws from universal design for learning principles in her courses to increase accessibility and flexibility, and to support students with a variety of abilities, strengths, and challenges as they work toward these goals.
Teaching Experience

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Rhodes College
Fall 2025 (18 students)
Florida State University
Fall 2022 (220 students)
Spring 2023 (278 students)
Fall 2023 (220 students)
Spring 2024 (242 students)
Summer 2024 (73 students)
PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER & SEXUALITY
Rhodes College
Fall 2025 (22 students)


PSYCHOLOGY OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS
Florida State University
Fall 2024 (114 students)
Spring 2025 (114 students)
Summer 2025 (103 students)
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Florida State University
Fall 2021 (20 students; 19 students)
Spring 2022 (27 students; 27 students)
Summer 2022 (15 students)

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