Rilla McKeegan

Rilla is a Chicago native, excited to return home this summer after completing an M.A. in geoscience at Princeton University. She received her B.A. from Amherst College, double-majoring in physics and geology and graduating magna cum laude. Throughout undergrad, she worked in the Beneski Museum of Natural History as an educator, working with students of all ages. She also worked as a TA, leading help sessions for a variety of STEM courses. In graduate school, she supplemented geologic research with ample teaching opportunities, both in formal (teaching an intro geology lab) and informal (science outreach with local kids) settings. As someone who has struggled with certain traditional classroom teaching styles, Rilla understands the diversity of learners and is excited to figure out which learning strategies help her students the most. She hopes to communicate the “why” of science and math, linking problem sets back to their real-world relevance. In her free time, Rilla loves theater — both acting and working behind the scenes. She also loves writing and art — she is currently learning figure drawing!