STEPHEN P.

VRLA
stephenvrla@gmail.com | (602) 999-8447

Objective: Helping young people become environmentally literate and socially conscious citizens is my
calling, and I believe I am best suited to pursue that calling as an environmental science or social studies
teacher at an independent secondary school.

EDUCATION
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
Dual Major Ph.D. in Sociology and Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education May 2019 (expected)
 Specializations: Environmental Science & Policy and Animal Studies
 Certifications: Certification in College Teaching
 Dissertation: Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Theory and Practice of Multispecies Deliberative Democracy and
Deliberative Democratic Education

Williams College Williamstown, MA

B.A. in History, magna cum laude June 2010
 GPA: 3.96/4.0
 Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
 Activities: Men’s Varsity Lacrosse (starting goaltender, Honorable Mention All American, 2010)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant 2014 – present
 Developing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on sociology, social justice education,
and classroom management
 Leading discussion sections in undergraduate courses on sociology, quantitative research methods,
environmental studies, animal studies, and other topics
 Mentoring undergraduate and early graduate students in sociology and animal studies programs

Fenner Nature Center Lansing, MI

Youth Leadership Program Coordinator and Naturalist 2015 – present
 Developing and implementing ecoliteracy and leadership development program for teenagers
 Leading place-based education programs for elementary schoolers through adults
 Conducting participatory action research study to improve environmental education curricula

Chinquapin Preparatory School Highlands, TX

Teacher, Resident Advisor, and Urban Teaching Fellow 2011 – 2013
 Developing and teaching middle and high school courses in environmental science and social studies
 Developing and implementing residence life program in middle school boys’ dormitory

Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Lehi, UT

Wilderness Field Instructor 2011
 Leading backpacking trips for youth struggling with psychological disorders
 Collaborating with psychologists and social workers to administer treatment plans

SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Curriculum development, organization development, educational research, participatory action research,
outdoor leadership, wilderness survival