Teaching Interests and Goals

My teaching and research engage the history of political thought to reflect on timely questions about the interaction between economics and politics, liberalism, and moral judgment. Each theme relates to my central concern as a scholar: understanding the proper relationship between the individual and society. I see political economy and political theory as intimately related. I have a passion for these disciplines because they encourage students to think about the goals of human beings living in society together, the essential values of politics, and how ideas about the individual’s relationship and responsibility to society have changed over time and are reflected or transformed in our political lives today. I strive to teach students to think for themselves and clearly articulate those ideas to others in their speaking and writing so that they can use these skills in any profession they choose.

My main goal as a teacher is to help my students learn to think critically. I define critical thinking as encompassing four main points: 1) thinking broadly across a variety of subjects and world-views, 2) independently evaluating arguments, 3) developing the imagination, and 4) applying conclusions to practical problems

Teaching Experience

Assistant Professor, Michigan State University

Politics and Markets (Fall 2019; Fall 2020; Fall 2021, Fall 2022: Spring 2024)
Radical Challenges to Liberal Democracy (Fall 2019; Fall 2020; Fall 2022)
Constitutionalism and Democracy (Spring 2021; Spring 2023; Spring 2024)
Adam Smith’s Challenge: Self-Interest or the Common Good? (Spring 2021; Spring 2023)
Introduction to Public Affairs (Fall 2021)

My teaching statement,  a summary of my teaching evaluations, and sample syllabi are available upon request.

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