My teaching expertise and interests cover the following fields: public policy, strategic studies, international relations, national security, critical and emerging technologies, and energy security. While most of my teaching is at the graduate level, I greatly enjoy teaching a highly interactive, intensive seminar-style course on intelligence statecraft that I designed as a Practitioner-in-Residence at Bates College. 

My teaching pedagogy is centered on a deep commitment to diversity in all of its kinds, and to fostering a learning environment where students from all walks of life feel nurtured and thrive.

The following are courses I have developed and taught as the instructor of record:

Biotech, Artificial Intelligence, & Health Security
– Johns Hopkins University

National Security & Critical and Emerging Technology Practicum
– Johns Hopkins University

Demystifying the USG Inter-agency Process & Intelligence Collection Authorities
– Johns Hopkins University

This Practicum is an innovative, experiential partnership between SAIS Hopkins, the U.S. State Department, and tech companies. This pioneering course offers an experiential learning experience to students interested in working on critical and emerging technology sectors in the private sector, and/or in public service. Students work directly with clients to address a pressing problem. Prior projects have examined issues around ethics of AI applications, cybersecurity capacity building, mis/disinformation in presidential elections, anti-trust regulations of big tech, digital privacy governance, etc. This course is by application only.

This intensive course aims to demystify the U.S. Government (USG)’s Interagency process – the highly complex work of coordination amongst various USG agencies, departments, congress, etc. We will explore the role of the major actors in this process, and the central role that the White House National Security Council plays through collaboration, coordination, negotiation, policy development, and decision-making. The second half of the course examines the USG’s intelligence collection authorities - the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern how the intelligence community can collect, analyze, and disseminate intelligence on both foreign and domestic persons, while ensuring compliance with U.S. laws. We will wrap up our course by simulating the inter-agency process in response to an intelligence requirement/crisis.

Chinese Foreign Direct Investment & U.S. National Security Vulnerabilities
– Johns Hopkins University

This course examines the American and the Chinese conceptualizations of national security, and their implications on how each nation defines their grand strategies vis-à-vis one another. The first part of the course takes a deep look at the Chinese economic statecraft model, with a specific focus on how the state instrumentalizes commercial actors and foreign direct investment. The second part of the course explores the American response via the work of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, with a focus on foundational and critical technologies in telecom, biotech, computing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things.

This course examines how China is challenging American supremacy geopolitically around the world, and strategically in the critical and emerging technology race. As China's role on the international stage grows, how will its behavior change the world?  Specifically, how will its growing engagement affect conflict dynamics in other countries?  Beijing has long espoused a principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, but as China’s overseas presence and interests grow, how is it adjusting its approach to global challenges and influencing the interests of other states? This course takes a deep dive into China’s ascendancy as a global power, its role, ambitions, and goals around the world, and how it is contesting its new place vis a vis the United States and American sphere of influence around the world.

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of global security studies (GSS), including theories of international relations (IR), perceptions and misperceptions in the international system, the varying concepts of security, and elements of national power. The course also takes a deep dives into social movement, gender and feminist theories, and critical theories. Students are expected to apply these conceptual tools and theories to select security issues, such as international cooperation, global economics, and the causes of war.

This course examines the nexus of energy, natural resources, and the environment. The course contextualizes these subjects in the study of conflict, war, terrorism, crime, international development, diplomacy, politics, and technology. Students critically examine the ways that increased competition for environmental and energy resources, strained resources, and changing conditions can threaten national security. The course also examines how such threats may be mitigated. 

Intelligence is at the heart of US national security. This course examines the role of the intelligence community (IC) within the US national establishment. Students explore the missions, structures, and modus operandi of the intelligence community and its interactions with policymakers and the executive branch of government. This course is highly interactive and designed to mimic “a day in the life of an intelligence officer.” Students will have the opportunity to explore key transnational issues through hand-on exercises simulating a real-life conflict. Special attention is given to examining some of the most pressing ethical and moral issues involving the intelligence community and US national security. 

Understanding the complex interactions between actors involved in global governance is necessary to understanding world politics today. Global governance focuses on how states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and other actors manage transnational challenges in areas that include economic development, international security, the environment, humanitarian assistance, global health, etc. We also examine the role of powerful nonstate actors, and less formal global governance initiatives in confronting regional and global problems. The course examines the broad issues related to global governance before turning to close examinations of the major institutions and actors involved with global governance. We also examine informal governance initiatives, and case studies that offer examples of how regime complexes work in practice.

China’s Rise & Its Impact on Global Security
– Johns Hopkins University

Introduction to Global Security Studies
– Johns Hopkins University

Energy & Environmental Security
– Johns Hopkins University

Spies, Special Agents, and the Presidency
– Bates College

Foundations of Global Governance
– American University

This course explores the link between security and public health. Its primary target audience are students who may not have health security as a primary work responsibility in the future, but will need an understanding of how public health, biotechnology, emerging technologies like AI, and infectious diseases have national or international security implications. Students will gain an understanding of the impact disease has on security, and will have an opportunity to examine the policy, ethical, historical, and economic issues that surround biological sciences and security, including the development of medical countermeasures. Co-taught with Profs. Gigi Gronvall, and Erin Sorrell.