The mentors who have had the most impact on my career have been both exceptionally clever and exceptionally kind. In embracing these principles, my teaching and mentoring focuses on cultivating curiosity, nurturing critical thinking and fostering resilience. I view education as a process of self-discovery: a mechanism of connecting and equalizing.  Over nine terms, I’ve taught courses from introductory ecology to advanced evolution, and mentored over twelve undergraduate students in both short-term and long-term research projects. In many ways, mentorship has shown me that leadership is about fostering growth and that diversity in perspective drastically improves the quality of science.