Teaching Philosophy

My teaching mission is to provide students with social science tools to interpret complex social realities, taking into account questions of difference, power, and inequality. I start from the belief that most people have an interest in engaging with social sciences as long as they see a clear connection between theoretical and methodological concepts and their intellectual, professional, or personal experience. Because of this, my role is to help students draw that connection by making social science scholarship accessible and engaging. To perform this role, I structure my work around three main goals:

1. To cultivate in students an appreciation for social theory based on an understanding of its practical applicability to real-world issues as well as their personal and professional lives.

2. To foster in students an appreciation for historical analysis as a means to make sense of social complexity and geographical difference.

3. To provide students with methodological tools to collect and analyze information on social phenomena in ways that are ethical and compatible with social justice goals.

Courses

• Political Ecology

• Cultural Anthropology

• Local Cultures, Global Forces

• Introduction to Latin American Studies