While I hope to inspire and mentor every student I encounter, my approach to teaching does not conform to the prevailing higher educational orthodoxy of “student-centered” learning which expects instructors to adapt to the special needs and differentiated “learning styles” of each individual. Instead, I offer rich, content-centered courses that provide students opportunities to encounter new (and, at times, contradictory) ideas and beliefs by combining dynamic classroom encounters with thought-provoking assignments designed to develop intellectual discipline and promote analytical rigor. I aim to maximize students’ potential for success by encouraging adaptability, independence of thought, and a willingness to take calculated risks. My goal is to inspire students’ passion for learning by integrating innovative scholarship with practical knowledge and a heavy dose of fun while encouraging them to develop the intellectual capacity and moral courage to question conventional “wisdom” and think for themselves.