Teaching Philosophy

My teaching highlights the importance of political science through active learning and interdisciplinary study. Moreover, I design courses that challenge students intellectually and help them build transferable skills like data literacy. Whether students are participating in mock elections to the differences between parliamentary and presidential systems, using V-Dem to see if the “Resource Curse” really exists, tracing how intellectual traditions like Confucianism influence contemporary Chinese politics, or running their own regression analyses, I help them learn by doing.

I am to creating an inclusive learning environment where students feel supported in their intellectual growth while maintaining rigorous academic standards. With regard to course content, my interdisciplinary background in global studies and political philosophy deeply inform my instruction. It is important, in my view, that students engage with the world’s variety of intellectual traditions that impact politics. Across nine years of teaching in the UC, CSU, and community college systems, I’ve cultivated a pedagogical approach that students consistently describe as intellectually stimulating, rewarding, and approachable.

Instructor of Record

  • Introduction to Comparative Politics – UC Davis
  • Introduction to American Government – American River College
  • Mass Media and American Politics – Sacramento State University
  • Analytical Writing – UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

Discussion Section Leader

I’ve led hundreds of discussion sections across 9 years of teaching. Topics have included:

  • Comparative Politics: comparative political economy, regime types, democratization, and more

  • Political Theory: Foundational Western theory, Mesoamerican and Indigenous thought, Chinese Political Philosophy, Pre-Colonial African Political Philosophy, and more

Teaching and Learning Communities

At UC Davis, I served as a Teaching Assistant Consultant (TAC), where I:

  • Led workshops on pedagogy including, Universal Design for Learning, Supporting Multilingual Students, Simplifying Course Design
  • Advised instructors students on inclusive teaching strategies
  • Regularly read and evaluated pedagogy research
  • Authored and co-authored teaching guides
  • Provided teaching consultations to instructors across various disciplines