Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Research
Certification
Professional Experience
Intellectual Contributions
Faculty Development
Service Activities
In Progress
Courses Taught
Awards
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Margaret Gifford

Burbank,CA
Margaret Gifford

Summary

I embrace a diverse learning community, valuing a variety of learning tools and providing personalized feedback. I collaborate closely with student advisors and deans to uphold robust learning outcomes. My expertise includes curriculum development for both online and traditional settings, with a focus on leveraging technology and AI to enhance teaching effectiveness and deepen comprehension. Engaging actively with the campus community, I have chaired and volunteered for committees, including the conduct committee.

Overview

25
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

West Coast University

Full Time Instructor
01.2014 - Current

Job overview

  • Have chaired several learning communities.
  • Worked on curriculum development in research writing and chemistry.
  • Developed curriculum for F2F as well as online.
  • Developed chemistry laboratory content.
  • Sat on conduct committee.
  • Specialize in teaching with technology, current focus in AI to facilitate understanding in the classroom.
  • 3.9/4.0 student and dean evaluations each term.
  • Certified in teaching, online teaching and Canvas as well as Blackboard.
  • Created videos for entire semester of chemistry.
  • Monitored student attendance and progress while collaborating with student advisors.

LACCD

Adjunct Instructor
02.2005 - Current

Job overview

Have taught all levels of chemistry. Currently teach first semester organic chemistry. Have served as adjunct representative and consistently develop online chemistry curriculum.

Santa Monica College

Adjunct Instructor
01.2017 - 01.2020

Job overview

University of California Public Health

Consulting
01.2005 - 05.2010

Job overview

Trained in ICP-MS specifically, also did FT-IR and GC in a research laboratory for the chair of environmental science.

University of California

Teaching Assistant
08.2007 - 03.2010

Job overview

Taught creative writing workshops, evaluated weekly assignments and critiqued a final thesis.

Loyola Marymount College

Adjunct Instructor
01.2007 - 01.2010

Job overview

Kaplan

Kaplan Instructor
02.2003 - 12.2004

Job overview

Taught all subjects on MCAT, including physics and verbal reasoning. Branched out to teach DAT and SAT areas as well.

Private Client

Behavioral Therapist
01.2000 - 12.2004

Job overview

Trained in ABA behavioral therapy for children presenting on the autism spectrum. Three hour sessions several times each week.

Doane College

Adjunct Instructor
01.2002 - 01.2004

Job overview

Education

University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles

Master of Arts from Creative Writing
01.2014

University Overview

GPA: 3.9

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE

Master of Science from Organic Chemistry
01.2003

University Overview

GPA: 3.7

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Ne

Bachelor of Science from Chemistry
01.2000

University Overview

Skills

  • Strong Communication Skills
  • Instructional Design Knowledge
  • Curriculum Design
  • Technology integration proficiency
  • Attendance monitoring
  • Diversity and Inclusion training
  • Curriculum Development
  • Continuous professional development
  • Online Teaching Experience
  • Multicultural Sensitivity

Research

Research
  • Research Associate in Public Health, Manager of Instrumentation. UCLA
  • Research Assistant to Lew Hunter, film and television, Grant Writing. UCLA

Certification

  • Online teaching
  • Online Course Design
  • VR/3D Course Design
  • Teaching CHEP
  • Leadership CHEP
  • Online Teaching Chep
  • Canvas
  • Blackboard

Professional Experience

Professional Experience
  • Kaplan Instructor, MCAT and DAT, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Behavioral Therapist, autistic children, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Consulting, University of California Public Health, Los Angeles, California

Intellectual Contributions

Intellectual Contributions
Controlling Mode Selectivity in Palladium-Catalyzed Bisdiene Carbocyclizations: Optimizing for Cyclization-Trapping over Cycloisomerization, J. M. Takacs, S. D. Schroeder, J. Han, M. Gifford, X.-t. Jiang, T. Saleh, S. Vayalakkada, A. H. Yap, Organic Letters, 2003, 5, 3595-3598, Naked Screenwriting, Rowman and Littlefield, 2020, True, Naked Screenwriting 2nd Edition, Rowman and Littlefield, 2023, True, Palladium Catalyzed Carbocylization reactions, 2003, thesis

Faculty Development

Faculty Development
  • Presenter for Utilizing AI in Classroom at all-faculty meeting -upcoming
  • Online Teaching Certification Current
  • Teaching Certification Current
  • Video and Podcast Development in Education. Stanford Continuing Studies. 2022.
  • Designing Interactive Online Courses. 2022.
  • Utilizing UX in Online Course Development 2022.
  • Utilizing Instrumentation in the Chemistry Laboratory Conference in Omaha, Ne 2019
  • Title IX Training. Current
  • American Disabilities Association Training. Current
  • Flipped Classroom and Blended and Online Learning Certification 2017
  • Attendance at STEM Learning conference in Cleveland, Ohio. April 2016.
  • Attendance at April all faculty meeting 2016.
  • Attendance at April 3rd all faculty meeting 2015.
  • Attendance at August 21 all faculty meeting 2015.
  • Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom by Charles Boswell, Ph. D. www.active-learning-site.com
  • Magna Online Seminar, Seven Ways to Increase Student Attention and Learning, by Kendall Zoller, Ed.D.

Service Activities

Service Activities
  • Adjunct Representative, Science, Los Angeles City College
  • Member of the American Chemical Society
  • Member of the American Federation of Teachers
  • Volunteer with Angels Food bank of Los Angeles
  • Volunteer Mentor with Students with Autism

In Progress

In Progress
  • Computer programming/IT course LACCD
  • 3D/Virtual Course Online Instructor


Courses Taught

Courses Taught
  • West Coast University Chemistry 210 Chemistry 1,2. Organic Chemistry 1,2.
  • Capstone 401 Chemistry and Healthcare Research Writing
  • Physiology 261

Awards

Awards
  • Goldwyn Writing Award
  • Sloan Science Writing Award
  • Colleary Donor Award Showcase
  • Annual Writing Award, UCLA

Timeline

Adjunct Instructor
Santa Monica College
01.2017 - 01.2020
Full Time Instructor
West Coast University
01.2014 - Current
Teaching Assistant
University of California
08.2007 - 03.2010
Adjunct Instructor
Loyola Marymount College
01.2007 - 01.2010
Adjunct Instructor
LACCD
02.2005 - Current
Consulting
University of California Public Health
01.2005 - 05.2010
Kaplan Instructor
Kaplan
02.2003 - 12.2004
Adjunct Instructor
Doane College
01.2002 - 01.2004
Behavioral Therapist
Private Client
01.2000 - 12.2004
University of California-Los Angeles
Master of Arts from Creative Writing
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Master of Science from Organic Chemistry
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bachelor of Science from Chemistry
Margaret Gifford