"What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing." ~ Aristotle

I am a firm believer in hands-on education and service-learning and make every effort to provide students with the opportunity for both as often as possible. I know that enthusiasm is contagious and strive to engage my students in thoughtful and provocative dialogue on a regular basis. When teaching design courses I encourage students to take "leaps of faith" and to experiment.

As an instructor I try to instill self-confidence and to teach communication skills using a variety of media. There is no one way to design or to think. Students need to learn what works best for them and then to challenge themselves to push beyond their comfort zones.

As a process-oriented person, I am less concerned about final products in entry-level courses than I am about what is being learned and how well students craft their projects. As students gain confidence, knowledge, and skills, I expect them to produce work which clearly demonstrates an understanding of design principles, human behavior, site selection, plant and material selection, ecology, and sustainability.

What students and volunteers have said about me...

"To a creator of dreams, a purveyor of imagination...Thank you Bambi for an amazing experience this round. Your dedication is contagious and your perseverence is inspirational." ~ AmeriCorps NCCC Earth Four Team, 2006

"As a current student of hers in Advanced Planning Methods II, I am often astounded at the alacrity with which Bambi is able to explore and explain even the most nuanced aspects of planning research methods. Her nimble intellect is exceptional, as she can clearly maneuver between in-depth statistical analysis, art historical methods of visual perception and design, the psychological underpinnings of human behavior, and proven techniques of successful community development efforts to improve the sustainability and design of the built environment." ~ Deryn Ruth Goodwin, Graduate Student, 2008

"Her teaching technique is well-structured, thorough, and energetic. Ms. Yost has a unique talent in weaving practical examples from her own relevant experience into her lectures - an effect which infuses her teaching with practical, real-world examples that engage and energize her students." ~ Kristin Kirkpatrick, Graduate Student, 2008