Consistently demonstrating excellence, with unrivaled skill, commitment, and enthusiasm, Chelsea Boccagno has accumulated an impressive teaching record during her time at Harvard. What distinguishes the PhD student in psychology from her peers is the depth and breadth of her teaching and mentoring experiences, which extend well beyond the traditional role of a teaching fellow, and how universally successful she has been.
For the past two years, Boccagno has led the Department of Psychology’s sophomore tutorial courses, PSY 971 (general psychology version) and PSY 975 (neuroscience version). In these small weekly seminars, undergraduates are taught how to read, write, and think like psychological scientists. While the department provides guidance on policies and assignments, the design of the course—as well as the selection of readings, lesson plans, activities, grading, and feedback—are the responsibility of the tutor, of whom the intensive class demands a tremendous investment of time and energy.
“It is incredibly rare for a graduate student to elect to hold this position for two full years, and something we see only from students like Chelsea who demonstrate unwavering commitment to educating undergraduates and truly enjoy these roles,” says Professor Leah Somerville. “It is also rare for graduate students to teach both the psychology and neuroscience versions of the tutorial, which requires a deep and flexible base of knowledge and pedagogical skills.”
Beloved by her students, Boccagno is also respected by her peers for the thoughtful advice on fostering a supportive seminar atmosphere and setting clear boundaries that she offers in group meetings. Her excellence resulted in a Q instructor rating of 5/5 for PSY 975. “Chelsea was an amazing section leader,” one student wrote in a course evaluation. “She provided extremely thorough and helpful feedback on every assignment, which helped my writing to improve throughout the course.” Another commented: “Chelsea…made a great atmosphere for discussion without making anyone feel judged.”
In addition, Boccagno’s outstanding mentorship in the lab has benefited the many students she has worked with. “I have been truly impressed with the leadership she has shown and with her commitment and caring towards the students she has mentored,” says Professor Jill Hooley. “She is wonderfully supportive of students while at the same time pushing them to work to the best of their abilities.”
Chelsea Boccagno, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is pleased to present you with the Derek C. Bok Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching of Undergraduates. Congratulations!
Photo by Tony Rinaldo
