Teaching Philosophy
The central aim of my teaching is to make students more equipped and more capable citizens of a democratic society. For that reason, in every class that I teach I go to great lengths to show how political ideas and concepts, even seemingly archaic ones, profoundly impact the way our world is structured, and, as a result, the very lives that we lead.
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness
During my three years at the University of Georgia, I was a two-time recipient of the Department of Political Science’s Susette Talarico Award for Teaching Excellence. You can find further quantitative evidence of my teaching effectiveness below.
POSC 4530: American Political Thought, Spring 2026 (My score: 4.94; Department average: 4.49)
POSC 4530 (II), Spring 2026 (My score: 4.97; Department average: 4.49)
POSC 1030: Introduction to Political Theory, Spring 2026 (My score: 4.96; Department average: 4.49)
POSC 1030 (II), Spring 2026 (My score: 4.72; Department average: 4.49)
POSC 1030, Fall 2025 (My score: 4.92; Department average: 4.36),
POSC 3530: Modern Political Thought, Fall 2025 (My score: 4.91; Department average: 4.36)
POSC 3530 (II), Fall 2025 (My score: 4.92; Department average: 4.36)
POSC 4370: American Constitutional Law Fall 2025 (My score: 4.78; Department average: 4.36)
*Scores represent the means of means as calculated by Clemson University.
POLS 1101: American Government, Fall 2024 (My score: 4.95; Department average: 4.44)
POLS 1101 (II) Fall 2024 (My score: 4.94; Department average: 4.44)
POLS 3000: Introduction to Political Theory, Fall 2024 (My score: 4.81; Department average: 4.44)
POLS 3000 (II) Fall 2024 (My score: 4.71; Department average: 4.44)
POLS 3000: Introduction to Political Theory, Spring 2024 (My score: 4.88; Department average: 4.42)
POLS 3000 (II) Spring 2024 (My score: 4.85; Department average: 4.42)
POLS 4020: Political Phil: Hobbes to Nietzsche, Spring 2023 (My score: 4.92; Department average: 4.42)
POLS 4020 (II) Spring 2023 (My score: 4.95; Department average: 4.42)
POLS 1101: American Government, Fall 2023 (My score: 4.89; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 1101 (II) Fall 2023 (My score: 4.88; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 1101 (III) Fall 2023 (My score: 4.89; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 1101 (IV) Fall 2023 (My score: 5.0; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 3000: Introduction to Political Theory, Spring 2023 (My score: 4.85; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 3000 (II) Spring 2023 (My score: 4.89; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 4020: Political Phil: Hobbes to Nietzsche, Spring 2023 (My score: 4.88; Department average: 4.47)
POLS 4020 (II) Spring 2023 (My score: 4.88; Department average: 4.47)
POLS 1101: American Government, Fall 2022 (My score: 4.88; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 1101 (II) Fall 2022 (My score: 4.63; Department average: 4.53)
POLS 1101 (III) Fall 2022 (My score: 4.94; Department average: 4.55)
POLS 1101 (IV) Fall 2022 (My score: 4.88; Department average: 4.55)
Scores represent responses to the “overall score” question as assessed by the University of Georgia.
Brandeis University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
H&G2-10: The American Political Tradition, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
SOC 3-10: What is Justice? Fall 2019, Spring 2020
POL 10A: Introduction to Political Theory (TA), Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020
POL 189A: Marx, Nietzsche, & 20th Century Radicalism (TA), Fall 2017, Spring 2022
POL 14B: Introduction to American Government (TA), Spring 2018
POL 113B: The American Presidency (TA), Spring 2019
POL 116B: Civil Liberties in America (TA), Fall 2018