Teaching
As a PhD candidate at Harvard University, I served as a teaching fellow for each of the courses described below.
My main responsibilities were to design and lead inclusive discussions of the course materials, to make complex topics more engaging and exciting for undergraduates with diverse interests, to encourage the kind of critical thinking and risk taking that is needed to promote vigorous but respectful debate, and to be a resource for students seeking feedback, mentoring, and career advice.
My student evaluations frequently exceeded both the course and department mean, for which I was twice awarded a Certificate for Distinction in Teaching from the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.
Course Descriptions
American Democracy
This course covers a variety of topics in the study of American Democracy, including: inequality and nationalism in American society, the role of the white working class in American politics, the conditions for socially inclusive economic growth and for knowledge economy development, and the institutional alternatives for democratizing the market and deepening democracy. The course explores and discusses the past, present, and future of the American experiment and includes commentary from invited thinkers, politicians, social activists, and entrepreneurs.
Harvard University, TA for Roberto Unger and Cornell West, Spring 2021
American Government: A New Perspective
This course provides an overview of contemporary American politics. It analyzes the way in which recent changes in elections and media coverage have helped shape key aspects of American government including the courts, Congress, and the Presidency, the workings of interest groups and political parties, and, also, the making of public policy. The course also explains how and why permanent political campaigns have altered governmental institutions and processes.
Harvard University, TA for Paul Peterson, Fall 2020
The Politics of Economic Inequality
This seminar investigates the political factors contributing to rising economic inequality in the United States, other developed democracies, transition countries, and globally. The first half focuses primarily on the United States and the second half examines inequality in comparative and global perspective. We review the major theories of inequality and examine the consequences of economic inequality for political equality, social mobility, and the differential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout, we relate political to economic factors that drive economic inequality, identifying commonalities and differences across countries.
Harvard University, TA for Tom Remington, Spring 2019, 2020
Data
This course provides an introduction to data science, teaches students how to think with data, how to gather information from a variety of sources, how to import that information into a project, how to tidy and transform the variables and observations, how to visualize, how to model relationships, how to assess uncertainty, and how to communicate findings. Each student completes a final project, the first entry in their professional portfolio. The main focus is data associated with political science, but we also use examples from education, public health, sports, finance, climate and other areas.
Harvard University, TA for David Kane, Fall 2018
Student Evaluations
“I just wanted to say thank you again for a great semester! As a senior, I have gone through many sections with many Teaching Fellows and you were by far one of the most knowledgeable, understanding, and compassionate. You always led section with an open mind and truly valued what your students had to say. I have no doubt that future employers will see the talent you hold and appreciate having you on their team.”
“I just wanted to write you both to say thank you so much for everything you taught me this semester. It was a pleasure learning and growing with you. I really had an enjoyable experience and I can’t begin to thank you enough for all of your help both inside and outside of the classroom. I really appreciate the guidance as we explored a lot of interesting ideas and what these mean in the real world.”
“Nick is an extremely extremely extremely good TF. He is wonderful, highly knowledgeable, funny and also brings a good atmosphere to class. In section for example, his unique background as a lawyer allows him to give an incredible amount of legal knowledge which then dovetails nicely with the political theory learned in the course. He’s also humorous and helps foster a wonderful community with all of his students. He’s also so accessible as well (even as he had a baby this semester!) and makes it possible for you to get feedback on any assignment. Amazing!”
“Nick is a phenomenal facilitator of discussions, extremely accessible outside of class, and willing to go far beyond the duties of the position to provide students with helpful resources both within the class and outside the class in terms of post-undergrad career information and networking opportunities. He does everything any student could ask for to create a comfortable and active space for discussion, and he is clearly very passionate about the material (and great at spreading that enthusiasm to his students). I can’t express how much work Nick clearly put in to prepare for every section, and cannot express enough how far beyond above and beyond he is willing to go to help his students in any way that he can, school-wise and career-wise.”
“Nick is a great section leader, who is very effective at conducting class discussions, understanding and teaching the course material, and getting to know and helping each student in his section.”
“Nick was an excellent section leader. He has a good energy about him: meaning that he was able to unpack complex ideas and hot–button topics with ease and clarity. His feedback on assignments was extensive, thoughtful, and constructive– I felt that I grew as a writer and a thinker as a result. I looked forward to section every week, which can’t be said for every class!”
“Fair, thoughtful, and compassionate. The total package!”
“Nick was great at facilitating discussion and making sure everyone’s voices/perspective were heard!”