NAYOUNG HWANG • PHD
NAYOUNG HWANG • PHD
TEACHING
Teaching gives me both purpose and joy. I have always been fascinated by how people learn, grow, and thrive. My goal as an educator is to instill a lifelong love of learning in my students. To achieve this, I focus on understanding my students, creating a positive and supportive learning environment, and providing feedback that helps them recognize their own growth. Learning should involve the right balance of challenge and support, because overcoming difficulties is often where students experience the greatest sense of accomplishment and joy. My nearly two decades of teaching experience continue to shape and strengthen my research in education, while my research, in turn, enriches and informs my teaching.
My teaching philosophy reflected in strong student evaluation and outcomes. In my Economics of Education course at the University of Missouri, students rated the course 4.7 out of 5, and 100% recommended it for its positive learning environment (see below for details). Since joining the University of New Hampshire in 2022, more than 90% of students in most of my courses have recommended or strongly recommended both the course and my instruction. Across courses in educational policy, research methods, and quantitative analysis, my goal is simple—to help students leave my classroom as deeper thinkers and more curious lifelong learners.
Courses Taught
Educational Perspectives in Critical Times (Undergraduate: In-person)
Economics of Education (Graduate and undergraduate: In-person)
Introduction to Research Methods (Graduate: Online)
Introduction Statistics (Graduate: In-person)
Applied Regression Analysis (Graduate: In-person)
SUMMARY OF INSTRUCTOR RATINGS
FEEDBACK FOR OTHER STUDENTS
(Would you recommend this class to other students regarding...?)
SAMPLE COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS
“The professor’s energy was incredible. She had me excited for the course from day one. She pushed us to think harder and deeper, and I really appreciated that.”
— Student, Economics of Education (University of Missouri)
“I appreciated how well this course prepared me for econometrics. I feel much more confident taking econometrics-based coursework now. The material was interesting, and the professor was great.”
— Student, Economics of Education (University of Missouri)
“This class covered so many important aspects of education—laws, rules, policies, and more. It was exactly what I was looking for to better prepare for my future career as a teacher.”
— Student, Educational Perspectives in Critical Times (University of New Hampshire)
“I learned so much about the American education system and the perspectives and challenges that shape schooling. As an international student, it was especially interesting to compare my home country with the U.S. school system.”
— Student, Educational Perspectives in Critical Times (University of New Hampshire)
“Although the course was completely asynchronous, I learned a tremendous amount—especially about the kinds of research questions that can be studied, the tools used in research, and strategies for analyzing data. This was my first course on research methods, and I was impressed by how much it covered.”
— Student, Introduction to Research Methods (University of New Hampshire)
“I would recommend this course to students in similar circumstances academically. For someone not versed in scientific technical writing, this course felt like a cooking class: I learned the tools, the techniques, and how to tell key elements apart. It wasn’t always pleasant—some details were truly granular—but it was extremely useful. Kudos and thanks to Professor Hwang for her great work as our instructor.”
— Student, Introduction to Research Methods (University of New Hampshire)
“I liked the inquiry-based, flipped-classroom approach—exploring first, then checking our understanding against homework answers and lecture material. Some classmates found the ‘productive struggle’ uncomfortable, but I learned a lot that way.”
— Student, Applied Regression Analysis (University of New Hampshire)
“Yes, without reservation. Dr. Hwang is an enthusiastic, dynamic, and patient educator. She has high expectations, but she is also supportive and helpful. It’s clear she is thoughtful about her pedagogy, even when a flipped-classroom model pushes students outside their comfort zone.”
— Student, Applied Regression Analysis (University of New Hampshire)