In my role as an educator, I pride myself on fostering a welcoming classroom environment based on joy, inclusion, and respect. This means taking the time to get to know my students, their identities, and their lived experiences. This means I see my students holistically, rather than as a grade or dismissing them as “just” an undergrad. I intentionally design activities for students to share about their own personal background in connection to the course material: how their lived experiences inform their ways of viewing the world and how that might connect with (or contradict) the assigned readings and course content. Just as I share my own personal background and cultural identity, as well as my journey to higher education and my current research, students also have opportunities to share about themselves in ways that feel safe and meaningful. In this way, I foster a community of learners within the classroom space.

For the past two years, I have been an Instructor of Record for EDS 25: American Higher Education and the Collegiate Experience (Summer Session II 2025 and 2026). Held over Zoom, this course is made up of 150 incoming freshman participating in the Summer Bridge Program. Together we explore topics related to diversity, equity, and systems of power in higher education. This is always an incredibly rewarding experience, as I am able to support students with their transition to UCSD as well as provide an intellectual space to discuss timely issues in higher education. As one student reflected in her final essay: “I am helping to slowly dismantle the systems that EDS 25 has taught me to recognize.” In recognition of my teaching, I received an Outstanding Graduate Teaching Scholar Award, one of only six students across campus to receive this honor.   

I received extensive formal training—over 40 hours of pedagogical development—on developing and implementing my own undergraduate course by participating in the UCSD Teaching and Learning Commons Summer Graduate Teaching Scholars (SGTS) program. In fact, I received the Engaged Teaching Scholar in Student-Centered College Teaching certificate for successfully completing the highest level of training. I continue to be involved with the Teaching and Learning Commons as an SGTS Peer Consultant. In this role, I participate on panels to share best teaching practices and offer mentorship to the current SGTS cohort.

My dedication to inclusive, equity-informed teaching has also led me to collaborate with Dr. Mica Pollock on best practices for teaching DEI courses. Together we are co-principal investigators on a mini grant ($2,000) from the DEI Program at UCSD to analyze pedagogical practices for teaching DEI courses. We are currently writing an article for publication on our findings.

Verbatim Comments from Students:

• I am so glad I decided to take the class and that Nora was my instructor. She made this class engaging, introduced interesting material, and was open to all opinions and feedback. She is easy to talk to and made students of all backgrounds feel welcome and appreciated. I appreciate her willingness and enthusiasm as an educator.
• One thing that stood out to me was how the instructor made an effort to acknowledge different perspectives and experiences in class discussions, which helped create a space that felt more open and welcoming. When students brought up personal experiences connected to the material, the instructor took time to listen and validate those voices, and that made it easier to participate without feeling judged.
• Despite being on Zoom, Prof. Turriago made class engaging by encouraging class discussion, asking questions, and creating breakout rooms. She incorporated a variety of sources that provided different aspects of course focus, which allowed me to develop a more cohesive understanding.
• This class changed how I see equity in college. Before EDS 25, I thought “equal rules for everyone” was enough. Now I think about power, history, and structures. I learned to look for who benefits from the way things are set up, even if no one says anything out loud.