My Teaching Philosophy
I aim to guide students as they improve their knowledge of key concepts in political life, develop important skills, and connect the study of politics to their own practice of politics. In my courses, I strive to engage students by connecting the study of politics to pressing political and moral issues, assist them as they learn to critically evaluate their own political instincts, beliefs, and commitments, and come alongside them as they develop their capacity to act as reflective and responsible democratic citizens.
I use the Socratic method to guide students as they engage with critical questions across the history of political thought and contemporary politics. I am committed to cultivating an intellectual environment of open inquiry that welcomes a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and perspectives. Under these conditions, students feel free to disagree with me and their classmates – and even themselves – as they wrestle with complicated questions and ideas.
At Elon, I teach courses across the political theory subfield, including a survey course in political theory and electives like American Political Thought, Polarization & Civil Discourse, Democracy and Its Critics, The Ethics of War and Peace, and Constitutional Law.