Professor Urrutia earned her Ph.D. in economics at the University of California, Riverside and now teaches economics at SMC. On campus, she is an advocate for equity in the classroom and as a member of the Equity and Diversity Committee. She enjoys working with and mentoring students as they work toward their goals, including in her role as advisor of the Economics Club. Her other interests include reading, traveling, and animals, of which she has many.
Specialty Area
- Applied Microeconomics
- Labor Economics
- Women in the Economy
- Environmental Economics
- Economics of Higher Education
Teaching Philosophy/Equity Statement
All students are entitled to a complete and fulfilling experience in the classroom. Fostering enthusiasm for the subject of economics that they can take with them no matter what they ultimately pursue is an important component of providing that experience. Helping students to apply and carry concepts forward past exams and into the real world is another key element. Successful teaching is equitable and inclusive and should involve:
Conveying understanding, not memorization
Economics is an exciting and relevant field, not just a series of supply and demand
graphs. Passing along its vast knowledge to students in the form of a number of models
to memorize is both ineffective and an injustice to the subject. Students deserve
to learn economics in a manner that will feel both relevant and applicable, whether
it be through the use of interactive 'games,' the presentation of data that supports
models being taught, or just through a considerate and detailed explanation. Providing
a wide variety of learning methods in this way also allows students of all strengths
to truly learn the material rather than just memorize it.
Contagious enthusiasm
Student curiosity can quickly be crushed by an educator who doesn't display the appropriate
level of enthusiasm for the subject matter being taught. An important part of teaching
economics, therefore, is the ability to express a healthy level of zeal for the field
and the wide variety of topics it can help us to understand.
Approachability and helpfulness
Being available and helpful to students when needed is the most effective way to ensure
all students are provided with the opportunity to succeed. This includes answering
questions via email and holding extra office hours, as well as being available for
questions from everyone in the classroom. It also means being open to talk about whatever
a student may be interested in, from future education and career plans to understanding
economics in the news, to course relevant questions. Making it a point to be available
to students is essential to encourage their appreciation for the field, as well as
providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all.
The ultimate goal as an educator is to ensure that achievement and motivation reach their full potential in all students. Creating a learning environment that will cater to this goal makes the classroom experience an incredibly rewarding one for everyone.