Teaching

My teaching philosophy is grounded in using practical and critical thinking activities to equip students with the tools to understand political phenomena across the globe while developing advanced argumentative writing and research skills. My approach draws on my undergraduate training at a research-focused institution that emphasized analytical writing and practical skills, as well as my experience as a teaching assistant. 

Across introductory and advanced courses, I use active-learning strategies, including role plays, teach-ins, and case studies, to develop students’ analytical and creative thinking. Students defend policy choices as government ministers in hypothetical countries, design original data collection strategies, and analyze evidence using qualitative content analysis tools. In introductory courses, debates and trivia reinforce course concepts, while advanced courses emphasize reading political science research, citation practices, and research paper development through structured guides and in-class exercises. 

To support diverse learners, I incorporate multiple forms of engagement, including think-pair-share activities, collaborative exercises, and visual learning tools through course slides. Students work together to identify central arguments in scholarly articles, evaluate supporting evidence, and communicate analytical findings, strengthening their critical reading and reasoning skills. 

I scaffold complex skills into manageable steps by beginning with concepts students already recognize. For example, students evaluate existing research questions before developing their own and consider how different question types shape the evidence required to answer them. I also incorporate hands-on activities using widely used political science datasets, where students explore patterns with open-source visualization tools and generate original research questions. 

University of Wisconsin-Madison

• As lead instructor

  • Political Science 433: Religion and Politics (Spring 2027)

• As a teaching assistant

  • Political Science 140: Introduction to International Relations (Fall 2023)

  • Political Science 320: Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (Spring 2024; syllabus linked here)

  • Political Science 182: Introduction to Comparative Politics (Honors) (Fall 2026)

• Other roles

  • Mentor: Undergraduate Research Program (2023-2026)

Research Writing Resources (developed by Marika Olijar)

• "How to Write a Social Science Research Paper Worksheet Series" (lesson plans with resources linked here)

• Social Science Paper Template for Undergraduates (.docx template linked here)