teaching
I have developed teaching techniques which resonate with undergraduates and also meet high academic standards. Recognizing the diversity within the student body, I construct my courses to engage the majority as well as the high achievers. I have worked to connect students in the Southwest with the realities of politics in far-flung geographic locations, sometimes by incorporating my own research and experiences into the courses, and often by use of current events analyses which illustrate or challenge course themes.
In both undergraduate and graduate teaching, I see my role as not merely a "conveyor of knowledge" but as a "facilitator" and guide, whose task it is to develop students' reasoning and writing abilities, and to improve their oral expression. The techniques I use to do this differ between undergraduate and graduate courses, and across courses, but the goals are similar. However, with graduate teaching, I also see myself as training students in the profession of political science, exposing them to cutting edge research (mine and that of others) and, for those who do not plan an academic career, I try to ensure that their analytical and synthetic capabilities are amply exercised, since those are traits they can also market elsewhere. My teaching style is dynamic and rigorous, and my format for larger classes is part lecture and part discussion, using diverse materials and tools to stimulate learning and participation. In smaller classes I also use case studies, internet sources, and other materials to lead the group in an analytical discussion.
I teach a broad range of courses, and to a variety of students. At the undergraduate level, I have considerable experience teaching an introductory level comparative politics course, and a European Union course and as a visiting professor at Harvard, I taught courses on comparative gender, ethnic and immigrant politics in Europe, and on religion and politics. My graduate seminars have ranged from being field surveys to focusing on more specialized areas (e.g., Religion and Politics), all aimed at training students for research and publishing in academic careers. For the School of Global Studies, I will be developing a "Learning Community" course with other SGS faculty on the changing conceptions and institutions of the individual and authority across the globe since 1500.