My Teaching Commitments

As a teaching assistant, I am focused on cultivating a tutorial environment that is comfortable, flexible, and centred around learning from each other. I work hard to keep students engaged by employing active learning tactics such as small group activities, debates, and close-reading. I pay close attention to how course design (in the physical and virtual classroom) contributes to making the classroom a welcoming place where all types of students can succeed! Finally, I am committed to ensuring students learn how to read and write philosophy. I am always striving to become a better teacher and I have recently enrolled in courses at the MacPherson Institute for leadership, innovation, and excellence in teaching. In 2022, I won the PhD level teaching award in my department!

In the fall semester of 2023, I taught my first solo course as an instructor: Topics in Ethics: Equality and Utopia. As I note in the description, the class “examines the topics of equality and utopia, namely through early modern women’s writings. We will survey how early modern writers talk about the equality of the sexes and what solutions they propose for existing in a world hostile to women. We normally hear about the equality of the sexes in philosophy only through how canonical male philosophers view women’s minds and souls—ultimately, these figures conclude that women are ill-suited for philosophical pursuits. This course details how women philosophers push back on these misogynistic narratives and showcases some imagined utopic solutions to widespread misogyny. We will start the course by covering content on the equality of the sexes and some secondary literature on how we should think about understudied philosophers. In the second half of the course, we will read several pieces that contain the themes of cloistering and utopia as a response to existing in a world embroiled in misogyny.” Please get in touch if you are interested in seeing a full course syllabus.

My teaching statement and references are available on request!

Teaching Experience

Instructor

PHL4YY3: Topics in Ethics: Equality and Utopia

Guest Lectures

PHL4C03: Constitutional Law, Equality and Anti-Discrimination

Teaching Assistant, McMaster University

PHL2Q03: Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law

PHL2S03: History of Political Philosophy

PHL 2Q03: Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law

PHL 2P03: Introduction to Ancient Greek Philosophy 

PHL 3Q03: Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law

PHL 3WP3: Modern Women Philosophers

PHL 3I03: Philosophy and Feminism

PHL 3C03: Advanced Bioethics

Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto St. George 

PHL275: Intro to Ethics

PHL244: Human Nature

Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto Mississauga 

PHL275: Intro to Ethics

Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto Scarborough 

PHLB09: Biomedical Ethics

“I found group discussion valuable because it helps us to hear other points of view, and it encourages everyone to do the readings so that we have stuff to talk about in the group discussions. I also found the way that Tyra promoted an inclusive safe space for us to learn in. She encouraged everyone to participate and ask questions. Tyra provided us with opportunities to provide her with anonymous feedback which gave us a chance to share ouropinions on the course. It was validating and made our voices feel heard” (student testimony from PHL 4YY3: Equality and Utopia).

“The assigned readings were extremely interesting, and introduced me to concepts and philosophers that I was not familiar with before. The instructor explained concepts in a clear and engaging way, and led interesting, engaging class discussions” (student testimony from PHL 4YY3: Equality and Utopia).

“What I found to be valuable in this course was the time Tyra took to explain further the readings that we were assigned but also that she created a safe and comfortable environment where we were able to think out loud, have engaging conversations, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding” (student testimony from PHL 4YY3: Equality and Utopia).

“The best aspect of the course has been the privilege of studying under Ms. Lennie. Despite still being a student herself, I rank Ms.Lennie among the best professors I have had while studying at McMaster. All of her lectures were interesting, and the class discussion she moderated throughout the term was consistently robust and informative. In addition to her skill as a professor, Ms. Lennie is a genuinely good person, and legitimately concerned with both the experience and success of her students. Over the course of the term, I have come to view Ms. Lennie as both a role model and a friend, and I would enroll in any course in which I again had to the opportunity to have her as an instructor” (student testimony from PHL 4YY3: Equality and Utopia).

 Teaching Development

Education 600: Essential Skills in Teaching and Learning

MacPherson Institute for Teaching and Learning

Education 700: Essential Skills in Teaching and Learning (II)

MacPherson Institute for Teaching and Learning

Summer Program at the Center for Canon Expansion and Change (CCEC)

Department of Philosophy, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities June 2023