Teaching

Courses

POLI 251 — American Political Institutions
University of California, San Diego (doctoral)

This course introduces doctoral students to some of the major themes in American political institutions. It is designed to prepare students for the Institutions portion of the comprehensive exam in the field of American Politics.

POLI 100X — Data Analysis and U.S. Politics
University of California, San Diego (undergraduate)

This course examines American politics from a computational point of view. Through in-class work and hands-on assignments, we will use data science tools to collect, analyze, and visualize data related to various facets of federal level politics in the U.S. Students will develop statistical and computational skills that will assist them in advanced analyses of elections, legislative outcomes, lobbying, and other dynamics of the lawmaking process in Congress. This course counts as an upper division course in the data analytics track.

POLI 100B — The U.S. Congress
University of California, San Diego (undergraduate)

The United States Congress is a central institution in American politics and a key arena for representation, lawmaking, and political conflict. This course examines how Congress works, focusing on the behavior of individual legislators and the institutional rules that shape collective decision-making. We will explore why members of Congress pursue particular electoral and legislative strategies, how parties and committees structure policymaking, and how Congress interacts with constituents, interest groups, and other political actors. Through readings, lectures, and interactive exercises, students will develop a deeper understanding of the incentives, constraints, and strategic choices that influence congressional behavior.

POLI 100Z — Gender and American Politics
University of California, San Diego (undergraduate)

This course examines the role of gender in American politics. We begin by considering women and men as citizens and voters. How do women and men differ in their political opinions and voting behavior? We also examine theories of representation and sort through leading explanations for why women remain underrepresented in political office. In the latter part of the course, we turn to the elite level and investigate whether women legislate differently than their male counterparts and how the broader political context influences patterns of women’s representation.

Teaching Awards

Harvard Kennedy School Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
2016–2017 (one of two Teaching Fellows awarded school-wide)

Harvard University Bok Center Certificate of Distinction
Fall 2015, The Politics of Congress