Andrew Ian Carlson, PhD

I think teaching is the act of creating an environment of trust with students and then challenging them to grow as much as they possibly can. Teaching is about both preparation and improvisation, about intentional plans and goals executed in uncontrollable circumstances that require me to be alive to the needs of that moment. Sometimes I fail at this. I let students know when I make mistakes and I try to model how I improve. I want students to develop into well-rounded artists and thoughtful human beings, capable of great professional accomplishments and of a greater wisdom that makes their lives more meaningful.