Sam D
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Expertise
Film studies + production, American literature, History, Economics, Music
Bio
Hi! My name is Sam (he/him). I am a literary scholar, economist, and multimedia artist. I am currently a doctoral candidate at UMass Amherst in the English department, as well as an adjunct professor at Barnard College. I have 10+ years of teaching experience with all age groups, and am super passionate about teaching. I currently teach an undergraduate seminar that opens with foundational economic concepts — supply and demand, market intervention, comparative economic systems — before moving into social theory. My current research on the history of higher education involves original empirical analysis of tuition costs relative to household income across decades, which involves data collection and economic interpretation. I write, produce, and perform all of my own music, and make my own films!Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Auto-theory Comic
In this project, a student will take high-level theoretical concepts from foundational social theorists (such as Judith Butler) and explain them in accessible terms using their own life experience. In doing so, the student will write a story about their own life to explain these concepts and draw their own imagery to match!
Economic Research Project
Together, we will choose an area of economic research that the student is most interested in and produce economic research about it! For example let’s say a student is very curious fashion, we could conduct research together about the fashion industry and explore the underlying economic dimensions of the market.
Teaching experience
I have 10+ years of teaching experience teaching all age groups. I have been both a high school English and History teacher in NYC, an instructor of College Writing and English at UMass Amherst, and am currently an adjunct professor at Barnard College in NYC. I also love teaching within the field of Economics, pulling on my undergraduate degree. I'm especially well-suited to students working at the AP or introductory college level. I have worked with many economics students in the showcasing stage which involves a fluency of those concepts and the capacity to help students refine their ideas for publication.Credentials
Work experience
University of Massachusetts Amherst (2021 - Current)
Instructor of College WritingBarnard College (2021 - Current)
Teaching AssistantAdjunct Professor (2024 - Current)
Barnard CollegeOxford Tutors (2019 - 2021)
Private TutorEducation
Smith College
BA Bachelor of Arts (2017)
Gender studies and EconomicsColumbia University
MA Master of Arts (2020)
American StudiesUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
English