Teaching
Teaching philosophy statement:
My teaching philosophy is informed by the principles of fostering critical thinking, recognizing diverse experiences, setting high expectations, and adhering to peer evaluation. In the classroom, I aim to ensure the participation of each student by setting up debate and role-play activities. I also encourage classroom participants to filter new knowledge through personal experiences and subjectivities such as class, race, gender or sexuality. It is my belief that there are no right or wrong questions to be posed in the seminar session, indeed, every scholarly position merits meticulous consideration. To support those objectives, I often use interactive teaching aids (e.g. ‘flipped classroom’ technique) and aspire to guarantee a rich learning experience beyond the classroom. Besides setting clear expectations at the beginning of each term and conveying how attained knowledge will translate into new skillsets – I endeavor to provide fair commentary on students' coursework both during and outside set office hours. Finally, my approach to pedagogy emphasizes a non-hierarchical relationship with students. I request feedback about my presented materials, completed assignments and delivered courses regularly. It is through these methods that I hope to meet student expectations as an instructor.
Current teaching:
In Spring 2025 I am teaching the following courses at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley:
POLS 3326 Post-Communist State Politics
POLS 4328 Global Political Economy
Previous teaching experience:
Introduction to Globalization (UTRGV)
Introduction to Political Economy (UTRGV)
Politics of the European Union (UTRGV)
Post-Communist State Politics (UTRGV)
Global Political Economy (UTRGV)
Theories and Concepts of World Politics (UTRGV)
Politics at University (University of Nottingham)
Problems in Global Politics (University of Nottingham)
IPE and Global Development (University of Nottingham)
Russian Politics and Society (Nottingham Trent University)
International Relations and Global History (Nottingham Trent University)
Post-Soviet Geopolitics (Nottingham Trent University)
Global Political Economy (Nottingham Trent University)
Foundations and Challenges to International Relations (Nottingham Trent University)
Reference letter policy:
I am committed to supporting my students and colleagues in their academic and professional pursuits. If you would like me to write a reference letter for you, please make sure that you meet the following criteria before contacting me:
You successfully completed one of my courses, received an overall grade of at least a B.
You worked with me on the dissertation project and got at least a B for your dissertation.
Request procedure:
Please request a reference letter at least three weeks before the deadline. This allows sufficient time for me to prepare a thoughtful and detailed letter.
Required information:
Include your most recent resume or curriculum vitae.
If possible, provide a brief personal statement outlining your academic goals, achievements, and the purpose of the reference letter.
Clearly state the position, program, or opportunity for which the reference letter is needed, including submission guidelines and deadlines.
Provide a copy of your transcript and any relevant grades from my courses.
Any additional documents that may help me write a more comprehensive letter (e.g., draft of the application essay, list of relevant coursework).
Please specify the format in which the letter should be delivered (e.g., hard copy, electronic submission, direct upload to a portal). Ensure that you provide all necessary instructions for submission.
Content of the letter:
The content of the reference letter will be based on my personal observations of your academic or professional performance, work ethic, and achievements. I will provide an honest assessment, highlighting strengths and relevant experiences. If I feel that I am not the best person to write the letter, I will communicate this to you promptly so that you can seek a reference from another source.