TEACHING

  • "Tezeru always simplified the readings to make everyone else in the class understand the material better. I really liked how she would pick out specific parts of the readings and made us read it aloud in class. This allowed me to see other people's perspectives and understanding of the material and it also demonstrated her outside preparation for the section."

    — UCSD Undergrad, Ethnic Images in Film

  • "Tezeru's greatest strength is her ability to either spark intrigue in a student or to develop a deeper understanding of the subject at hand. She is brilliant at making connections and allowing the student(s) to discover the material for themselves."

    — UCSD Undergrad, African American Theatre

  • "Tezeru is exceptional at leading discussions. She always has something constructive to add to the conversation, and she's great at asking the group questions that lead to deep analysis of what we read."

    — UCSD Student, African American Theatre

  • "Am amazing professor overall. Cares very much about student success, always willing to make time for students. Encourages participation during class, makes students feel very comfortable and excited to comment and ask questions during lecture. Topics discussed in class are always very interesting, and the learning takeaway from this course has far exceeded my expectations- -I did not expect that I would learn so much valuable information from a film class, and I am very happy that I took this course. Thank you, professor! :D"

    — UCSD Undergrad, Great Performances on Film

  • "The professor was amazing. The course stimulated my interest because she was so passionate. I loved the embodiment portion."

    — CSUSM Undergrad, Intro to African-American

  • "Tezeru is exceptional at leading discussions. She always has something constructive to add to the conversation, and she's great at asking the group questions that lead to deep analysis of what we read."

    — UCSD Undergrad, African American Theatre,

  • "She is a very positive and energetic professor who always wants the class to learn and take away something from each lecture. She always wants the class to, whenever they see any form of modern day media, view it with skepticism and ask whether or not it conveys any sort of stereotypes."

    —UCSD Undergrad, Great Performances on Film

  • "Very safe space to discuss and learn more about African-American Theatre and surrounding culture."

    — CSUSM Undergrad, Intro to African-American

  • "Tezeru is a great teacher and mentor. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience that cannot be all appreciated in just the classroom. She learns with you and teaches you at the same time. And she does it all with a smile."

    — UCSD Undergrad, African American Theatre

  • "She is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about this course, and is well prepared for each lecture. She promotes interesting questions and discussions to the students. Hope to see her continue teaching this class."

    — UCSD Undergrad, Great Performances on Film

  • "Please please please let this class return so that other students get the chance to experience and learn from it."

    — CSUSM Undergrad, Intro to African-American

  • "A vibrant and enthusiastic educator with a deep passion for and understanding of the material. She begins each class with stretching, asks engaging and thought-provoking questions, learns students’ names to build genuine relationships, fosters a strong sense of community, and shows sincere interest in students’ perspectives and well-being."

    — UCSD Undergrad, Great Performances on Film

Educational Theatre

The University of California, San Diego PATHS SCHOLAR is a scholarship program for underrepresented populations entering S.T.E.M. WATCH as participants reflect on how the tools of Theatre have helped them develop self-awareness, compassion, and confidence to process and articulate the greater context of their personal experiences as members of underserved and/or underrepresented populations entering STEM. 

My teaching practice is rooted in active, embodied, and collaborative learning that moves students from theory into practice. I use theatre, storytelling, critical inquiry, and participatory methods to help students examine complex social questions while also giving them opportunities to test ideas through movement, discussion, research, performance, and collective creation.

I approach the classroom as a space where students do more than receive knowledge—they rehearse it, question it, apply it, and create with it. Theory becomes a tool for understanding lived experience, and practice becomes a way of discovering what theory can and cannot explain.

My goal is to help students become thoughtful, confident learners who can communicate across differences, work collectively, take creative risks, and carry what they learn into their communities, professions, and public lives.

  • Developmental College Writing; Core 1000 (English Literature)

  • Flourishing in STEM (College Orientation); Making Legislative Theatre; Creative Minds: Making Legislative Theatre; Introduction to Theatre and Society; Applied Theatre;  Play Analysis; Creative Minds: Theatre of the Oppressed; Introduction to Theatre and Society; Creative Minds: Theatre, Math & Engineering

  • Introduction to Black Theatre and Film - 20th Century

  • Latinas in Film (w/Dr. Jade Powers); Playing Indian-Native Am Cinema (w/ Dr. Julie Burelle); Black Girls in Film (Instructor on Record); Cult Films: Weirdly Dramatic (w/Julia Fulton); Cult Films: The Films of Spike Lee (w/Dr. Grace Shin Hae Jun); Glimpse into Acting (w/Todd Salovey); Ethnic Images in Film Studies (w/Dr. Ashvin Rathnanand Kini); African-American Performance (w/Dr. Nadine George-Graves); Introduction to Play Analysis (w/Dr.Nadine George-Graves); Ancient and Medieval Theatre (w/Jason Bogaard Dorwart); Twentieth Century Theatre (w/Dr. John Rouse); Professional Theatre 1500–1900 (w/Dr. Janet Smarr); Introduction to Theatre (w/Todd Salovey)

University Teaching

High School Teaching

  • Kearny Mesa High School 2022; Herbert Hoover High School 2021;  Teaching Artist, STEAM Summer Academy 2019 - 2023; Lindsay Community School 2019 - 2021;  Graffiti Zone 2013; City Year, Harper High School 2012-13