Teaching Philosophy

I have summarized my teaching philosophy as “giving students the dots, letting them draw the lines.”  I see education as a chance for students to create their own connection between material and form their own judgments.  I structure my classes around this approach, using numerous primary sources (readings, artifacts, videos), and asking students to discover the big picture and develop their own analyses.

Personal Background and Hobbies

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my formative years have left their mark in my hobbies of cross country skiing and cheesemaking. I also enjoy hiking, gardening, and cooking. I read a lot of science fiction as well.