I am a generalist when it comes to teaching and have taught a wide-range of courses.
Ethics and Public Policy
Human Resource Management
Introduction to Public Administration
Public Service Leadership Theory
Managing Workplace Diversity
Non-Profit Management
Employee Motivation
Organization Theory & Behavior
Policy Analysis & Program Evaluation
Public Management
My courses are very interactive and discussion-based. I challenge my students to go beyond simple answers and clearly explain the rationale for their answers. For example, I ask my students to:
Describe the problem(s) that are being addressed.
Identify the solutions of the problem(s).
Defend the process used to select the best solution.
Address their potential blind spots that may have influenced the analysis
I expect my students to learn, think critically, communicate their thoughts clearly and concisely, and appreciate the value of evidence-based decision-making. I have found that students do this best when given the opportunity to experiment with real-world issues and case studies.
I am also interested in deepening the value that students place on public service careers. Students are under immense pressure to choose any career other than public service! As a professor of public service, I believe one of the most important parts of my job is to convince students that a career in public service is worth it and a noble calling. This has become even more important in our current political environment and the evidence that many public service degree programs are losing ground in this area.
If we are not excited about our field and apathetic towards it, why would our students be any different?