Teaching Philosophy

​

I believe that as students and scholars, if we expect to contribute to finding solutions to poverty, income inequality, and the other development issues that confront us in the 21st century, we must constantly challenge ourselves to question those assumptions as we attempt to better  understand the world around us.    

​

Motivating students to accept this challenge is at the heart of my teaching philosophy.  Over the years I have learned that one way to motivate students is to bring the real world to the classroom.  Beyond staying apprised of the current literature, latest debates and emerging issues in my field, I find that by complementing my teaching and research with outreach and service activities I am better equipped to bring real world examples to class.  When I actively engage and network with practitioners in my field I find myself better prepared to help students to bridge the gap between theory and practice, whether in the classroom or in the field.  In the classroom I rely on case studies and experiential learning methods from guest speakers to make the point.  However, when given the opportunity, I prefer to complement such classroom activities with field learning.  For the past three years, for example, I have designed and conducted a two-week, field study in international business or community economic development to provide students with a greater understanding of development processes and applications in an emerging market context.  In fact, last January I organized a graduate field course to examine the development challenges confronting rural communities across the South.  The course focused on the community-level impacts of globalization as observed through the lens of the nation’s processed food industry and its ever increasing presence in rural southern communities, and on how some communities are attempting to reshape local economies on their own terms. 

​

Notwithstanding the method, either through case studies, guest speakers, or whenever possible, practical, hands-on field experience, I think we should always as scholars seek ways to bring the real world to our classroom.  By doing so, I believe we stand a better chance of encouraging students to become critical thinkers.  Thus, my personal goal is always not only to promote their intellectual engagement but also to help them become more discerning thinkers of the world around them.