Ryan Lenz

Past undergraduate fellow

Undergraduate Study: University of Oregon, University of Canterbury (South Island New Zealand), University of Hawaii at Manoa. Botany, Evolution, Marine Biology.

About GK-12: My interest in the GK-12 program was primarily to discover whether I wanted to attend grad school for a Masters of Biology or get my teaching credentials.  This has been a wonderful eye-opener for me, as I have been exposed to both worlds and the choice is now clear:  I want to teach!  There is something incredibly fulfilling about watching young minds work.  We have the ability to deliver fascinating (and local!) content in interactive ways that the kids get excited about.  Also, I have had the unique opportunity to create my own lesson plans based around coldwater aquariums.  Creating brand new curricula has been a huge learning process and I feel far more confident to teach full-time.   I think this program is one of the most beneficial things the OIMB does.