I have taken every opportunity offered to me to teach over the past several years. As such I have taught an extensive and diverse group of classes. I have been continually teaching since 2012.
From the Fall of 2015 to the Spring of 2019, I taught a 3/3 load while completing my dissertation and earned the “UNLV Graduate Student Teaching Award-Political Science” for the 2018-2019 academic year. In Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 I taught a 4/4 load and earned the “2020 UNLV Outstanding Teaching by Part-time Faculty Award.” I have been teaching a 4/4 load at UVM since arriving in the Fall of 2022. *See below for an explanation of these numbers for the non-academics.
Courses Taught:
PSC 101: American Government and Nevada State Constitution
University of Nevada, Las Vegas; College of Southern Nevada
POLS 1300 A: American Political Systems
The University of Vermont
Began Teaching in Fall 2012 and have since taught the class 30+ times.
This class is an introduction to American political and governmental systems (as well as a detailed account of the Nevada state political process when taught in Nevada). This class utilizes university online teaching programs to increase student learning and engagement.
POLS 3700 A: International Energy Policy
The University of Vermont
This class looks at the history of energy in the world, how it is created, how it is controlled, and the attempt to transition, as well as examining the global energy market from international government perspectives using theories of International Relations. It also covers institutions and corporations that have grown powerful in international affairs because of the control of energy production.
POLS 195 A & D: US Environmental Politics
The University of Vermont
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the political history and current political policies of environmental stewardship & policy (and lack thereof) in the United States. To achieve this purpose this course covers the pertinent issues and institutions relating to the politics of the environment in the United States and orients these elements within the greater context of public policy formation.
POLS 2560A: Introduction to International Environmental Politics
The University of Vermont
This course provides a foundational understanding of humankind’s role in the current state of the global environment, global weather, resource management & exploitation. In particular, this course examines world governance and actors (or lack thereof), in relation to the above listed issues. This course is rooted in the scientific evidence that human-made environmental change is an existential threat, and that effective governance, coupled with cultural adaptions, can reduce the threat, and mitigate the damages.
PSC 314: Religion and the Political Process
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
HCOL 1500 M: Freshmen Seminar Religion in American Politics
The University of Vermont
Spring 2019; Fall 2021
This course explores the role of religion in governance and political culture in the United States.
PSC 305: The Presidency
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
POLS 229: The Executive Branch
The University of Vermont
Spring 2017, Fall 2018, 2022
This course reviews the institution of the presidency and the scope of the executive branch.
PSC 405Z: Special Topic: Globalization
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Fall 2016
The class examines the history, effects, and future path of an ever increasingly interconnected world.
PSC 405T & POLS 229: International Environmental Politics;
University of Nevada, Las Vegas; The University of Vermont
Fall 2016, 2022 & Fall 2021,
An examination of international governance concerning the environment and how it is created and managed.
PSC 401O: Brookings Mountain West (Brookings Institution) Elections and Governance
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Spring 2015
This class utilizes visiting Brooking Scholars and my lectures on the growing trend of the permanent campaign preventing good governance.
Distance Education and Online Teaching
Coronavirus Courses
PCS 101 Introduction to American Government
College of Southern Nevada & the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020
When the virus struck I transitions 4 different classes at two different colleges to online with great results. Over the Summer and Fall of 2020 I incorporated video lectures and web-remote class instruction to my existing use of MP3 and audio-in-slides lectures.
PSC 101: Introduction to American Government
College of Southern Nevada, Online
Spring 2016
Distance education class conducted completely online. I created all teaching modules and online materials, and maintained communications with students.
PSC 101: Introduction to American Government
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Singapore Satellite Campus Online
Fall 2014
Distance education class for students in Singapore attending UNLV’s distance education hotel college.
REL 200: Introduction to World Religions
North Carolina State University
Fall 2004
Online introduction to world religions. As an undergraduate, I was hired to assist with this class. I graded all tests and managed the student forum section, created and graded all writing assignments, and oversaw all electronic contact with students.
Classes Taught, but not the Instructor of Record:
PSC 405Z: Special Topic: Brookings Mountain West (Brookings Institution) New Issues in Foreign Policy
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
February 2014 – April 2014
Done in conjunction with visiting Brookings Scholars specializing in emerging issues in both domestic and international foreign policy.
PSC 403C: Environmental Policy
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
February 2014 – April 2014
Class examines US environmental policy, how it is created and implemented.
PSC 314C: Religion and the Political Process
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
February 2011 – April 2011
Explores the role of religion in governance and political culture in the US.
PSC 4o5Q: Global Ecopolitics
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
January 2012 – May 2012
Examines the aspects of global and US environmental policies and actions.
*For non-academics, college teachers measure their teaching load by how many classes they teach a semester. A 5-5 load means I taught 5 classes in both the Fall and Spring. Normal load at a community college is 4 – 4 or 5-5, at a liberal arts college is a 3-3 or 4-3, and research universities are often 3-2 with a graduate level course taught. The difference is at a community college usually there are no 300 (junior level) or 400 (senior level) classes so a lot of the classes are the same. Liberal arts colleges don’t usually have a heavy research component but do have upper level classes which are harder and take more time. Research universities prize research as much, if not more, than teaching so the teaching load is smaller and the other time is supposed to be spent on research and publishing.