Teaching

“I used to think that aging issues, like caregiving or ageism, were just personal things that families had to deal with on their own. I assumed it was something society didn't fully understand or talk about until we reached that point in our lives. But through this class, I've learned that aging isn't just an individual or family issue, it's also shaped by society through policies, economic systems, and cultural expectations. The assignments and readings helped me see how deeply connected aging is to things like race, gender, class, and access to care. It changed the way I understand not only how older adults experience the world, but also how those experiences are shaped by systems most people don't even notice. I feel more aware now, and I'm glad this class gave me a better way to look at these issues.” Student in Sociology of Aging at UVU

“The most helpful aspects of this class for my learning have been the course discussions and the real-world applications of gender theories. The class discussions allowed me to engage deeply with the material and hear diverse perspectives from my peers. This made complex concepts more accessible and practical. Additionally, the assignments, such as the podcast project, pushed me to apply course theories to real-life situations, helping me to better understand the concepts and how they manifest in everyday life. The readings were also very comprehensive, and the class did an excellent job of connecting theoretical knowledge with current issues and media examples, making the lessons feel both relevant and impactful.” Student in Sociology of Gender at UVU

“I loved the format of this class and really enjoyed the way we were able to learn through working together. At first all of the group work was a little uncomfortable but as time went on I began to really enjoy the time that we had to talk to the people next to us and analyze different sociological perspectives together, I think this helped me learn because I was able to hear how other students understood topics as well. I think group projects are so important to a class, and in some classes you have group projects with people that you don't talk to the whole semester. But because we were able to interact with our group mates almost everyday it became easier and in the end much more productive because we were used to each other and how we all worked together. I also really enjoyed Professor Malae's attitude everyday, she was always so happy and helped keep a light mood to the class while also being passionate about what she taught so that we could understand how important it was and soak in more information. I honestly really enjoyed being part of this class and was able to learn a lot, because of the way I learned in class I even thought about sociology outside of class.” Student in Introduction to Sociology at UVU