Teaching and Course Information

Instructor of Record:
  • Introduction to World Politics (Undergraduate)
  • American Foreign Policy (Undergraduate)
  • ​Political Economy of Conflict (Undergraduate)
  • International Security (Graduate)
  • Comparative Foreign Policy (Graduate)
Students often ask for advice on how to succeed in class. The following is a list of general tips and guidelines that may be useful to anyone taking any of my undergraduate or graduate courses.
  • Attend class regularly. The most basic thing you can do to improve your performance is to attend class regularly, take good notes, and pay attention. Please note that I post all lecture slides online, so you do not need to copy each individual slide. Instead, try to focus on the overarching concepts or additional details that supplement the core points appearing on the slides. Also, please note that missing class for family events or other social activities does not exempt you from completing assigned material on time. While I realize that everyone values different aspects of their college experience in different ways, please understand that it is not my responsibility to accommodate the social schedules of every student. My job is to provide you with an opportunity to learn—whether or not you take advantage of that opportunity is up to you.
  • Do the readings. As with attendance, another simple step you can take to improve performance is to keep up with the readings. Spend even a short amount of time each day with the material covered in class and in the assigned texts—spending 15 minutes per day reviewing material will be considerably more useful to you can 4 hours of cramming just before a test.
  • Ask Questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The whole reason you're here is because you lack knowledge, not because you possess it. Whether it's in class, after class, or during office hours, asking questions to clarify difficult material is a critical step.
  • Document special needs, disabilities, or illness early. I'm always happy to accommodate students with special needs, but please do not wait until the last week in the semester to inform me of something that has been systematically affecting your grade all semester. Please speak with the Student Access Center for more information.
Additional Academic Resources:
Many students struggle with a variety of issues, including medical problems, mental health issues, food insecurity, homelessness, and more. If you are struggling with these kinds of issues, and if you think that it's going to impact your class performance and/or to meet deadlines, please contact your professor and student life as soon as possible to make arrangements to help you better balance life's demands. Below is a list of campus and community resources that may also be useful, including the University's student services office, therapists, and counselors.