Teaching
Courses & Teaching
I teach undergraduate and graduate courses across Santa Clara University, Golden Gate University, Notre Dame de Namur University, San Francisco Bay University, and UC Berkeley Extension — spanning leadership, organizational behavior, management, negotiation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe students learn most effectively when they are active participants in the learning process.
My courses combine academic research, discussion, reflection, case analysis, experiential activities, collaborative problem-solving, simulations, and practical application. Rather than asking students only to remember concepts, I challenge them to examine how those concepts influence individuals, teams, organizations, and communities.
I strive to create learning environments where students feel supported enough to participate, question assumptions, take intellectual risks, and learn from one another. I recognize that students bring different professional experiences, identities, strengths, goals, and levels of familiarity with course material. These differences should enrich the classroom rather than limit participation.
My role as an instructor is to help students connect theory to practice. Students are encouraged to analyze organizational challenges, reflect on their leadership approaches, communicate across differences, manage conflict constructively, and consider the ethical consequences of managerial decisions.
Ultimately, I want students to leave my courses with stronger professional skills, greater self-awareness, and an increased ability to contribute responsibly and effectively to organizations.
Teaching Commitments
Active Learning
Students should have opportunities to practice, discuss, reflect, and apply course concepts rather than passively receive information.
Inclusive Participation
Classroom participation should make room for different communication styles, experiences, identities, and levels of confidence.
Practical Application
Assignments and activities should help students connect academic theories to realistic professional and organizational challenges.
Reflection and Self-Awareness
Leadership development requires students to examine their values, behaviors, assumptions, strengths, and areas for growth.
Constructive Feedback
Students should receive feedback that is clear, supportive, specific, and focused on future development.
Ethical Leadership
Management education should prepare students to consider how organizational decisions affect employees, communities, customers, and society.
Current & Recent Courses
Managing Human Dynamics in Organizations
Introduction to organization theory and practice with an emphasis on organizational behavior, inclusive of the contexts of the individual, the group, and the organization as a whole.
- Motivation and engagement
- Team dynamics and performance
- Organizational culture and change
- Power, politics, and influence
- Diversity and inclusion in organizations
Negotiation Skills in Business
We negotiate every day, both at work and in our personal lives. This course provides a framework for understanding negotiation principles, helping students build competence and confidence in their negotiation skills. Drawing on decades of research, students will gain the analytic skills and situational awareness needed to negotiate successfully.
- Principled negotiation frameworks
- Distributive and integrative bargaining
- Cross-cultural negotiation
- Mediation and third-party intervention
- Difficult conversations
Emotional and Social Intelligence at Work
This course develops the student's understanding of the primary and secondary components of emotional and social intelligence and how they are applied in the workplace and in professional relationships within a variety of organizational contexts.
- Self-awareness and self-regulation
- Empathy and social awareness
- Relationship management
- Emotional intelligence in leadership
- Applying EQ in organizational contexts
The Manager as Communicator
Seeks to improve communication skills in various management situations such as interviewing, oral presentation, group leadership and decision making. Emphasizes both oral and written professional communications. Students will be encouraged to develop individual evaluative criteria with the aid of the instructor and fellow students.
- Oral and written professional communication
- Interviewing and presentation skills
- Group leadership and decision making
- Evaluative and critical communication
- Management communication contexts
Introduction to Business Law
An introductory-level course in U.S. business law designed to prepare students to spot potential legal issues in the operation of businesses so they can operate legally and know when to consult an attorney. Topics include sources of law and ethics, contracts, torts, agency, criminal law, business organizations, and judicial and administrative processes.
- U.S. legal system structures and processes
- Contracts and torts
- Agency and criminal law
- Business organizations
- Judicial and administrative processes
The Art of Negotiation
Enables students to acquire comprehensive knowledge and develop advanced skills to navigate complex negotiation scenarios and influence various stakeholders. The curriculum emphasizes a strategic mindset, disciplined preparation, and key interpersonal skills through case studies and simulations relevant to Silicon Valley.
- Negotiation theories and strategies
- Win-win outcomes and mutual benefit
- Strategic mindset and preparation
- Stakeholder influence
- Real-world case studies and simulations
Leadership Concepts
Gives a historical and philosophical approach to leadership, identification of personal goals and leadership behaviors in administration, and understanding group dynamics and group leadership. Organized as a laboratory for self-study of the individual as a leader and for development of leadership strategies.
- Historical and philosophical leadership
- Personal goals and leadership behaviors
- Group dynamics and group leadership
- Self-study and leadership identity
- Leadership strategy development
Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility
Students learn the relationship between law and morality, develop individual core values, and study various business decision-making models. Examines major ethical theories and explores their application to current organizational, economic, and social issues through case studies and critical thinking.
- Law, morality, and core values
- Major ethical theories
- Business decision-making models
- Organizational and social ethics
- Case studies in professional practice
Conflict Management
Focuses on theoretical and practical analysis of principles and processes for the management of conflict in employment relationships. Provides a framework for understanding and developing skills for the identification, prevention, and resolution of conflict in workplace relationships.
- Conflict identification and prevention
- Workplace conflict resolution
- Conflict management systems design
- Employment relationship dynamics
- Practical conflict management skills
Administrative Law
Examines court decisions affecting administrative law. Topics include jurisdiction, venue, judicial ethics and discretion, abuses, and contemporary problems.
- Jurisdiction and venue
- Judicial ethics and discretion
- Administrative court decisions
- Contemporary administrative problems
- Abuses in administrative law
Legal Environment of Business
Explores how the law is used to resolve potential and actual conflicts of interest in society, including those between business, government, individuals, and private institutions. Evaluates the effectiveness of specific laws including securities, consumer, employment, and environmental.
- Law and conflict resolution
- Business and government relations
- Securities and consumer law
- Employment and environmental law
- Evaluating legal effectiveness
Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Business
Studies the legal, ethical, and value dimensions of the business enterprise. Attention is given to the court system, regulatory agencies, and specific topics affecting decision-making in commerce. Ethics is viewed from a business perspective while focusing on issues of modern-day legal relevance.
- Legal and ethical dimensions of business
- Court system and regulatory agencies
- Business decision-making and ethics
- Value dimensions of the enterprise
- Modern legal relevance in commerce
Contemporary Professional Writing
Students develop analytical skills and practice in writing and editing various documents common in contemporary organizations: letters, e-mails, reports, business plans, presentations, and websites. Social media applications and e-portfolios are explored.
- Professional writing and editing
- Business letters, reports, and plans
- Presentations and website writing
- Social media and e-portfolios
- Diction, syntax, and clarity
Questions about a course or syllabus?
Current and prospective students are welcome to reach out with questions about courses, office hours, or academic advising.