Sydney R. Sweck

Biography

As a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island (URI), Sydney Sweck first discovered her passion for teaching while instructing a Human Anatomy and Physiology I lab.

After completing her master's degree, Sweck remained at URI in a series of increasingly advanced teaching and coordination roles. First, she served as a lab technician supporting Anatomy and Physiology I and II labs. Then, she became a biological sciences lecturer teaching Anatomy and Physiology I and Introductory Biology lectures. Finally, she served as the specialist for human anatomy and physiology lab pedagogy, a position in which she independently oversaw approximately 50 lab sections enrolling 1,000 students per semester. She managed teams of graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants, developed and delivered all lab curriculum, and coordinated closely with lecture faculty to ensure a cohesive learning experience across both course components.

Sweck has since taught lecture and lab sections of Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Introductory Biology (for majors and non-majors) and Microbiology as an adjunct professor at Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island. Across these institutions, a large proportion of her students have been first-year undergraduates pursuing nursing and other health professions, and she brings a deep understanding of both the rigor the material demands and the particular needs of students on a healthcare pathway.

A committed and research-informed educator with a strong pedagogical background, Sweck emphasizes clarity, active learning and student support in all of her courses. Her goal as an instructor is to help students form a deep understanding of the human body that will serve them well in their future lives and careers.

Education

• M.S., Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island
• B.S., Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island

Courses Taught

• Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture and Lab
• Anatomy and Physiology II Lecture and Lab