We are Students Teaching Students.
Students Teaching Students (STS) is a registered student organization at Penn State that equips and enables undergraduate students to teach an official course under the supervision of a faculty member. From analyzing the music of Kanye West to preparing for the LSAT, student-led courses fill gaps in the existing curriculum and offer new learning opportunities to curious minds. Established as a student-led program, STS partners with both the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Undergraduate Education.
STS courses are designed to be a valuable and memorable addition to a student’s educational experience at Penn State. Ranging from 1 to 3 credits, student-led courses are electives that prioritize student engagement and fostering peer-to-peer collaboration. Courses are listed across various colleges and are open to all Penn State students.
Students Teaching Students has many benefits for students, faculty, and the Penn State community. First, students enrolled in STS courses have an unmatched opportunity to learn about niche topics from passionate instructors in a small classroom setting, advancing student engagement and peer-to-peer learning. Next, through completing the course design and instruction process, Student Instructors become experts in their subject matter and grow as learners in the process. Finally, STS offers the unique opportunity for Penn State to deepen student-faculty collaboration and further expand educational offerings by supplementing the existing curriculum.
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Our Team
We are a student-led, faculty-supported team who believes in empowering the student voice across Penn State classrooms.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Abby Han
Program Director
Contact: abbyhan@psu.edu
Abby Han is in her third year at Penn State. She is a part of a dual degree program where she is studying Math and pursuing her MBA. Abby joined the STS team in 2021 and loves being a part of a program that equips students with the tools, resources, and ability to share their passions.
Christina Magrini
Director of marketing
Contact: czm6005@psu.edu
Christina Magrini is in her second year at Penn State majoring in Marketing with a minor in Italian. She joined the team in 2022 as the Director of Marketing. Christina is excited to get some real world marketing experience through STS.
Rohith Bodduluri
Director of Finance
Contact: rzb5638@psu.edu
Rohith Bodduluri is in his third year at Penn State, majoring in Finance with a minor in Economics and Mathematics. Rohith first got involved with STS as a student in the COMM197: Formula 1(01) class and is excited to help other students become teachers. Outside of STS and school, Rohith is a member of Leveraged Lion Capital, Penn State Finance Society, and IM Basketball and Volleyball.
Sara Yi
Director of Outreach
Contact: spy5176@psu.edu
Sara Yi is a fourth year majoring in Biology with the Vertebrate Physiology Option and minoring in Film Studies. She joined the team in 2022 after creating and co-instructing COMM 197: Bioethics in Media. Through STS, Sara hopes to inform other students and help them share their own passions through teaching.
FACULTY LEADERSHIP
Christina Taheri
FACULTY ADVISOR
Contact: cjl22@psu.edu
Larkin Hood, Ph.D.
SITE TEAM LIAISON; Associate research professor, schreyer institute for teaching excellence
Contact: lnh2@psu.edu
Larkin Hood earned her doctorate in Anthropology at the University of Washington in 2007. She is currently an Associate Research Professor for the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, where she works primarily with Penn Staters who teach Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. Her research interests include how students learn from teaching others, and how instructors can include students in course design and planning . Prior to coming to Penn State, Dr. Hood developed and coordinated the undergraduate docent program at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, where she worked with undergraduate educators from a variety of disciplines to design and implement educational programs for the general public. She has been teaching anthropology courses since 1998.
Adam Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant research professor, schreyer institute for teaching excellence
Contact: ahs5357@psu.edu
Adam Smith earned his doctorate in Fine Arts at Texas Tech University in 2018. He is currently an Assistant Research Professor for the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, where he works with faculty across the Penn State system. His research interests include the benefits of transparency in assignment design, the learning benefits of reading groups for faculty, as well as the challenges of facilitating class discussions on divisive topics. Prior to coming to Penn State, Dr. Smith worked in similar positions at Texas A&M and Texas Tech Universities. In addition to his work at Penn State, Adam is a pianist and piano teacher.
Beate Brunow, Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE research professor, schreyer institute for teaching excellence
Contact: bub130@psu.edu
Beate Brunow earned her doctorate in German Literature and a minor in Women's Studies at the Pennsylvania State University in 2011. As an Associate Research Professor at the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, she works with instructors on questions around inclusion and equity, well-being, and civic engagement. Her research interests include intercultural learning and the role of well-being in the learning environment. Prior to coming to Penn State, Dr. Brunow served as Director of Academic Partnerships at the University of Georgia, and as interim Dean of the Center for Innovation and Learning and Director of New Faculty Teaching Initiatives at Wofford College. She also served as a first-year student advisor and program coordinator for German and Gender Studies.