Teaching & Training Philosophy
My teaching and training philosophy is rooted in inclusivity and respect for diverse perspectives, whether in graduate-level academic settings or corporate training environments. I employ active learning strategies that celebrate varied participation and learning styles while fostering a collaborative climate aligned with clear objectives. I am particularly attuned to power dynamics and strive to create spaces where participants feel respected, intellectually stimulated, and productively challenged. By collaboratively establishing norms, I ensure that participant preferences and concerns inform the learning experience, making it both impactful and relevant to their goals.
Graduate Courses Offered
Public Policy & Management
In addition to learning about the constitutional, social, and cross-sectoral contexts of public policy and public management, students study key aspects of the policy process and dynamics within public organizations. The course establishes a foundational understanding of the process of policy development and implementation along with human behavior insights at the individual (micro), organizational (meso), and societal / networked (macro) levels. I take a critical lens and examine the complexity introduced by diversity at each of these levels so that issues of social justice and ethics are always top of mind.
Citizenship & Public Ethics
This course focuses primarily on the ethical values and legal mandates of decision making as experienced by those who have responsibility for the administrative implementation of public policy. We discuss the intricacies of democracy through the study of the administrative “branch” of government, where civil servants are responsible for ensuring that laws are faithfully executed as intended by the legislature. Through a discussion of administrative “ethics” we tackle the subject of civic morality and the implications for the notion of citizenship.
Qualitative Research Methods
This course provides an in-depth exploration of qualitative research methodologies, emphasizing their application in addressing complex social issues and informing policy decisions. Students will gain hands-on experience in designing studies, conducting interviews and focus groups, analyzing data using thematic and content analysis techniques, and presenting findings through compelling narratives and visualizations. The course highlights ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and the importance of amplifying marginalized voices in research, preparing students to conduct rigorous, impactful qualitative studies in diverse contexts.
Guest Lecture: Social Justice in Public Policy
This guest lecture focuses on the role of emotional labor in perpetuating inequity in organizations. I highlight the gendered and racialized dimensions of emotional labor and how they connect to status and power both in organizations and society at large. I showcase the implications for inequity in hiring, compensation, promotion, and retention of a diverse public workforce.