Teaching Philosophy
As an instructor, I aim to impart theoretical and practical knowledge that will encourage students to (1) develop a comprehensive understanding of theories and how to apply them to the social world; (2) become aware of existing social structures and inequities; (3) be agents of positive social change; and (4) embrace diversity of all kinds.
I strive to make my classes accessible, the environment welcoming, and myself available. I encourage open dialogue in my classrooms, and moderate discussions when dealing with potentially sensitive subjects, to ensure students feel like our class is a safe space. Additionally, I encourage students to attend my office hours – I usually incentivise these sessions by bringing baked goods – which allows me to get to know them in a more informal setting, while also giving me the opportunity to personalise my brand of teaching to their style of learning.
Courses as lead instructor
PUBAFRS 4011: Public Affairs Capstone (Undergraduate)
Autumn 2019, Spring 2020 & Spring 2023
Sample syllabus
PUBAFRS 2130: Leadership in the Public & Non-Profit Sectors (Undergraduate)
Autumn 2022
Sample syllabus
PUBAFRS 2110: Introduction to Public Affairs (Undergraduate)
Autumn 2018, Spring 2019, Summer 2019 & Autumn 2023
Sample syllabus
Statistics Boot Camp (Incoming Masters students)
Summer 2017 & Summer 2o18
My students say…
“Aditi was truly dedicated to making our course the most stimulating and rewarding it could possibly be. She was always open to student feedback in terms of how to improve the course layout/structure/assignments, and she made changes to our course based off of said feedback to make it more engaging and rewarding. She also had a wonderful balance in terms of her teaching style, where she always communicated what was expected and provided examples, but at the same time always encouraged us to think for ourselves and produce work that challenged us and allowed us to go the extra mile in a direction we felt passionate about. She is one of only two JG instructors that I felt consistently put students' academic needs and interests first.”
“Aditi really helped us shape and craft our capstone papers to be the best they could be. She created a very relaxed classroom environment for our capstones, which I was very anxious about producing from the start of this class. However, Aditi's confidence in our success, optimism with our papers, and encouragement really helped me in terms of staying calm and focused throughout this whole process of writing the largest paper of my life. I loved everyone in my class and appreciate them also for their feedback on my papers. Overall, a super super great professor that I will miss!”
“Aditi was a fantastic overall teacher, she brought great energy to the classroom and was very diligent in the way she transformed the classroom from face to face to virtual sessions.”
“Aditi instructed this course well – I appreciated how willing she was to get to know our class, learn about our policy interests and adapt the course based on our needs. It’s been a friendly environment, which Aditi created effortlessly.”
Courses as teaching assistant
PUBAFRS 7900: Capstone - Research Paper in Public Affairs (Graduate)
Autumn 2021
PUBAFRS 7573: Public Affairs Qualitative Methods (Graduate)
Spring 2021
PUBAFRS 6070: Public Affairs Statistics (Graduate)
Spring 2017, Autumn 2017 & Spring 2018
PUBAFRS 6060: Managerial Leadership in Public and Non-profit Organizations (Graduate)
Autumn 2020
PUBAFRS 6000: Public Policy Formulation and Implementation (Graduate)
Fall 2016, 2 sections
PUBAFRS 5750: The Business-Government Relationship (Graduate)
Spring 2017
PUBAFRS 2110: Introduction to Public Affairs (Undergraduate)
Spring 2018
MY STUDENTS SAY…
“Aditi was a great TA. She was attentive to all, and even participated in class with us. I liked when she provided feedback in Carmen--it helped me track my progress and grow on assignments.”
“Aditi was wonderful! Always had great insights to share with the class during our discussions and was very approachable and kind. Very communicative if office hours did change and was willing to make appointments.”
“Great asset to the course. I appreciated her input in our class discussions and her relatability.”
Instructors I’ve worked with say…
“Aditi was great with the students. They seemed to enjoy working with her in the labs. She was able to explain concepts and keep them on track. Aditi was incredibly dependable, even during a tough and uncertain semester. She was always present and engaged for class as well as our meetings/debriefs. I appreciated her partnership in teaching the course, in particular her advice on tricky issues related to student interpersonal conflict and grading.”
Courses Created
PUBAFRS 8194: Towards a Theory of Racial Justice in Public Administration (PhD, group study)
Autumn 2020, Spring 2021
This course combines theories about race, power and justice to explore how Public Administration (PA) addresses, or fails to address, racial oppression and injustice. Exploring theories of justice from different fields will provide the foundation from which to understand and frame PA’s use of such theories, while also allowing the opportunity to identify existing gaps in PA. With racial justice serving as the main focus of the course, we will incorporate an intersectional approach that accounts for interlocking systems such as sexism and classism.
We will consider the following questions: How does PA approach racial justice? How can PA scholars understand racial justice? What steps should be taken by researchers and practitioners in PA to thoughtfully examine and address racial injustice? How should PA research agendas employ theories that adequately confront inequity and racial injustice? PA has demonstrated concern with social equity; this course centers on a study of structural power to understand the ways in which PA scholarship and praxis may approach racial justice.
Notable Teaching Achievements
Honored with nominations for the Graduate Associate Teaching Award for incorporating student feedback into curriculum, using varied teaching techniques to foster critical thinking and promote understanding, and overall commitment to student wellness (2018-2019 & 2019-2020 cycles)
Recognized with exceptional peer and student reviews and nominations for the Glenn College’s Outstanding Teacher and Teaching Assistant Award (Spring 2017, Spring 2020)