As a scientist, I strive to find a balance between creative innovation and evidence-based techniques when selecting my research methods. Similarly, as a scientific educator, I believe that implementation of teaching methods should be creative and based on evidence of efficacy. My approach to pedagogy is focused on student-centered, problem-based, and active learning approaches because a growing body of evidence suggests that these engaged practices are more effective than traditional, lecture-based approaches at increasing student performance and decreasing student failure across diverse student populations. My teaching philosophy emphasizes building critical thinking and communication skills through a curriculum that mirrors the scientific process of discovery and is guided by the principle that “appreciating the scientific process can be more important than knowing scientific facts.”