Teaching

How I Teach: Philosophy, Courses, and Syllabi

I see education as a way to share knowledge while giving students room to build real critical thinking and problem‑solving skills. I teach subjects that most students never encounter in high school or in their core college classes. My goal is to open the door to new ideas and histories they haven’t had the chance to explore before. And to find a creative way to talk about their new knowledge. That novelty is intentional: espionage, intelligence history, and political storytelling invite students to push beyond what they think they know about history. Students learn best by reading closely, choosing one idea to focus on, and then talking through it — a process that helps them build confidence in their own interpretations. I want students to step inside the moments we study, imagine how they would respond, and wrestle with the ethical and strategic questions that make intelligence history so compelling. I use the same approach in my summer STEM program, where I work with incoming first-year college students onhow to present their research and navigate the expectations of college life. Whether we’re discussing the life of a spy or drafting an email to a professor, my aim remains consistent: to help students think clearly, communicate with confidence, and believe in their own abilities as scholars. In every lesson, I strive to guide students toward the often-ignored stories that make history not only exciting but also rich and relatable.

Readings in Espionage
Fall 2023, Spring 2025, Spring 2026

Clark Summer Research Program Weekly Lecture
Summers 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025