top of page

Teaching Philosophy and Strategies

2023 Carla B. Howery Teaching Enhancement Grant Winner

Integrating Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) in Sociology at Two-Year Institutions

Dr. Olson is committed to invigorating research culture and developing effective course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) at two-year institutions. CUREs provide more inclusive and high-impact learning opportunities for all students rather than a select few, as ordinary UREs are limited to serving. The goal is to design, implement, and assess a CURE that provides students at two-year institutions an effective way to engage in original analysis of publicly available quantitative data. As a result, this project addresses the gap in social science resources and explores potential strategies for implementing research experiences in the social sciences generally at two-year institutions.

Read more here

Student Feedback

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

September 2022 - Present

INSTRUCTOR, Social Sciences Department
Walla Walla Community College

  • Introduction to Sociology (SOC 101) 

  • Aging and Society (SOC 206)

  • Victimology (CJ 426)


August 2013 - August 2022

INSTRUCTOR AND TEACHING ASSISTANT, Department of Sociology 
University of Colorado Boulder

  • Deviance in U.S. Society (SOCY 1004)

  • Sexualities (SOCY 1006)

  • Sex, Gender and Society I (SOCY 1016)

  • Drugs in U.S. Society (SOCY 2034) 

  • Violence against Women and Girls (ETHN/SOCY/WMST 3314)


September 2018 - May 2021

VISITING INSTRUCTOR, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Pacific Lutheran University 

  • Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 101)

  • Social Problems (SOCI 240)

  • Drugs in U.S. Society (SOCI 287)

  • Medical Sociology (SOCI 387)


August 2017 - May 2018

VISITING INSTRUCTOR, Department of Sociology
University of Colorado Denver

  • Introduction to Social Psychology (SOCY 2642)

  • Medical Sociology (SOCY 3440)

What students are saying...

bottom of page