Teaching

I have taught a variety of courses in international relations and security at Yale and Princeton in both small seminars and large lectures. In 2007, I received the Stanley Kelley, Jr., Award for excellence in teaching at Princeton University.

My office hours are updated weekly; appointments can be made here.

In AY 2019-20, I’m teaching “Development Under Fire” and “Political Violence” in the spring quarter.

Yale

  • Development under Fire (undergrad)
  • Airpower in Modern War (undergrad)
  • Political Violence (Ph.D)
  • International Relations II (Ph.D)
  • International Relations Field Coordinator (2013)
  • International Security (Ph.D)
  • Topics in International Security (undergrad)
  • Approaches to International Security (undergrad)
  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, Jackson Institute (2010-11)

Princeton

  • Introduction to International Relations (undergrad)
  • National Security (undergrad)
  • Emerging National Security Challenges (MPA)
  • Dynamics of Violence in Civil Wars (undergrad)
  • WWS Policy Task Force: Chechnya (undergrad)

Recommendation Letters

I’m often asked to write recommendation letters for graduate and undergraduate students. I treat these requests seriously; both of our reputations are on the line. Please consider whether I am the most appropriate individual to ask for a letter; the strongest letters are based on personal experience, not the rank or reputation of the writer.

In the spirit of helping me write the strongest letter possible for you, I’ve outlined my letter writing policy below.

Please note that I require a minimum of two weeks to write the letter—I will not write with less notice. More notice is always better.

Please ensure that you’ve taken at least one seminar with me. Make sure you ask me before submitting my name as a reference; it’s jarring to receive your email asking if I’ll write after the auto-generated email from the university or grant agency listing me as a reference. And send all supporting documents to me in one email when asking for a letter, including:

  • Updated CV
  • Your polished (grant) application essay
  • A cover note with suggestions for what I should highlight in my letter

As a courtesy, fill out all relevant information (e.g., my name, position, work address/phone, etc.) in these forms. Filling out this information can save me hours given the volume of letters I write each semester.

For undergrads, make sure you’ve taken a seminar with me and excelled in it. Unfortunately, enrolling in one of my (large) lecture courses won’t fit the bill since I won’t have direct personal experience with you. I will, however, write letters if you have worked for me as a research assistant for at least one semester.