Courses
I teach courses in public administration and public policy at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
PA 366 U.S. Environmental Politics and Public Policy is an upper-level undergraduate class that uses social science theories and methods to understand why and how American governments regulate the environment.
PA 874 Policy Making Process is a core course in the La Follette School’s MPA program. The course takes up the processes involved in initiating, forming, creating, and implementing public policies.
graduate advising
Working with PhD students is one of the best parts of my job. Doctoral study prepares students for careers as scholars, teachers, and professionals. I like to think of graduate students as collaborators and colleagues-in-training, and am personally invested in helping them to succeed. As a scholar, my most satisfying experiences are shared moments of discovery with graduate students. Interested in studying environmental policy, public administration, and/or bureaucratic politics at the University of Wisconsin? Please contact me, especially if your interests include water policy and management.
philosophy of teaching
Teaching is essential to my identity as a professor. Teaching is also a central responsibility for scholars in an age when people invest tens of thousands of dollars in higher education. I pour tremendous energy into teaching and often leave the classroom physically exhausted and exhilarated.
I try to teach the kinds of courses that I loved as a student: challenging and rigorous, creative and engaging. Clichéd as it is, the axiom “teach how to think, not what to think” guides my teaching. I seek to impart knowledge about public policy and management, but also to help students think scientifically about the political phenomena that they observe and experience. I invite students to consider, question, and evaluate the material that we study.