"My foremost goal as an educator is to inspire my students to explore and think critically about the world around them. I want my students to become more informed, responsible, and compassionate citizens. Effective learning happens when students are nurtured to develop intellectual curiosity, when they are allowed to integrate their own experiences in learning, and when they are challenged and supported"

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I have been fortunate to gain a diverse range of teaching experiences through my work as an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Southern Connecticut State University and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Texas at Dallas. I have taught several graduate and undergraduate courses including Foundation to Public Affairs, Research Methods in Political Science, Public Human Resource Management - Leading a Diverse Workforce, Organizational Theories, and Managing Nonprofit Organizations. These classes vary in content and teaching format, including in-person, online, and hybrid.

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Herbert Simon once said “Learning results from what the student does and thinks and only from what the student does and thinks. The teacher can advance learning only by influencing what the student does to learn”. Several years of teaching have shown me that the ways my students do and think are very diverse. Each student in my class is a unique individual with different learning styles, motivations, experiences, and backgrounds. If I can accomplish one thing in such a diverse class setting, I want to ensure all students have opportunities to explore and experience the field of public administration field both theoretical and practical perspectives. Rather than presenting simple facts and numbers, I incorporate real-life scenarios, case studies, and stimulate debates to give my students hands-on experiences.

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I believe that learning should not be confined by physical classroom boundaries. I create opportunities for my students to engage in conversations outside of class and interact with real-life scenarios. For example, I encourage students to attend extra job talks and seminars. I also invite HR professionals and practitioners as guest speakers to my classes. I design a group assignment that allows students to interview public managers about challenges in managing human resources during the pandemic and propose practical solutions for organizations. In my nonprofit course, my students are required to volunteer in a nonprofit and set up a nonprofit for the cause they care about. These assignments challenge students to think critically about the world around them and motivate them to take action. More importantly, I want to instill a sense of confidence in my students that they are capable of creating positive changes for their community.

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I firmly believe teaching is a two-way process where both students and instructors can learn from on another. I expect my class to be engaging and meaningful for my students and myself. I see my role in class is not only to teach but also to learn. The classroom should be a safe, open space for healthy discussions to occur. Most of my teaching sessions are interactive and discussion based. Besides written assignments that are expected to be at a scholarly level, I incorporate individual and group presentations throughout the semester. Allowing students to present their research in front of other peers not only help them to overcome their fear of public speaking but also improve their confidence, interpersonal and leadership abilities.

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While I challenge students to step out of their comfort zone, I deeply acknowledge my role to be present, supportive and to create a safe space for growth. Teaching during the pandemic has  underscored the necessity of empathy and support to help students navigate their learning journey. When students face personal life crises, it can be difficult for them to maintain their motivation and commitment to learning. I feel a strong need to connect with my students. I learned that reaching students' hearts needs to come first before lessons start. To set this tone, I often begin every class with simple check-in questions, such as "What do you enjoy doing in your free time” or "What makes you smile today". Whether my class is online or in-person, I believe spending an extra five minutes to get to know my students and see how they are doing is crucial to build genuine connections.

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Personal interaction is one of the most important aspects of my teaching. I always try my best to know my students by their names, their interests, their expectations, and their challenges. I make myself available by encouraging students to talk to me after class and schedule one-on-one meetings when necessary. In addition, I reach out to my students when I feel there are potential issues affecting their studies. At the beginning of each semester, I openly ask my students about their expectations. To me, empathy means being present for my students, being flexible in difficult times, and providing support they need. I am humbly proud and happy that with my extra efforts, I have helped several students overcome their challenges to continue their studies. I have also written recommendations for several students to secure their first jobs. Teaching is rewarding when I can see my students grow not only academically but also socially and professionally.

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I may not be a perfect instructor, but I believe I can always improve to be better. After four years of teaching, I have learned that teaching requires flexibility and adjustment. While I design my teaching to meet fundamental requirements, I also focus on diversifying my methods to accommodate different needs. I prioritize make learning materials accessible to students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In teaching, continuous training and feedback are important for improvement. I am an instructor with a high willingness to learn. I constantly seek opportunities to improve my capabilities as an instructor by attending teaching seminars. I periodically collect anonymous feedback and evaluations from my students to improve myself professionally. Teaching is a challenging, yet exciting and joyful experience that has allowed me to grow both as an educator and as a scholar.