Applied Computer Methods, Teaching Assistant

I spent about two years working as a teaching assistant for a Python-based computer engineering course, helping students use Python in a hands-on, hardware-focused environment. The class centered on Raspberry Pi labs and Python-driven mechatronics, where students wrote code to interact with real sensors, motors, and physical systems rather than working only with abstract examples.

I started as a junior TA, supporting labs and office hours, and later moved into a Head TA role. As Head TA, I led a section of roughly 40 students and coordinated three junior TAs, helping manage lab execution, troubleshoot technical issues, and maintain consistency across sections. I held weekly office hours that regularly supported more than 80 students, often working through live debugging sessions and helping students build confidence applying Python to engineering problems.

During this time, I noticed that many effective teaching strategies and debugging techniques were being rediscovered each semester. To address this, I developed the course’s first internal knowledge base to capture lessons learned, common pitfalls, and practical methods for teaching and using Python in the class. The resource was designed to support both TAs and students while improving continuity between semesters.

At the start of 2026, I stepped down from the role to fully focus my efforts on leadership, fundraising, and organizational development for the Lehigh University Rocketry Association, where my responsibilities had grown significantly.