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Teaching Philosophy

My teaching is built on analytical rigor, participation and engagement, and inclusive deliberation. I design courses that connect theory to the real world of governance, whether that means students producing professional-quality policy briefs or meeting policymakers in Washington, DC. I believe students learn most deeply when they can see the stakes of the concepts they are studying.

Co-Instructor of Record

PSCI/UAP 4644: Government Oversight in Action (or Inaction?): Power and Accountability in Washington, DC Virginia Tech — Washington Experience Program | Winter 2026

 

A three-week experiential seminar in Washington, DC, where students examined government oversight and accountability through meetings with policymakers, government officials, and practitioners.

PSCI/UAP 3744: Policy Analysis Virginia Tech | Spring 2025

 

An undergraduate course guiding junior and senior students through applied policy analysis, integrating lectures, seminar-style discussions, and case studies. Students completed semester-long applied projects culminating in original policy briefs and analytical papers.

Teaching Assistant

Graduated Classes

  • Public Policy Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (Spring 2024, Spring 2025)

  • Normative Foundations of Public Administration (Fall 2022, Spring 2024) ·

  • Concepts and Approaches (Fall 2024) 

  • Policy Systems Management: Homeland Security & Prevention (Fall 2023) ·

  • The Homeland Security Threat Environment (Spring 2024)

  • Homeland Security Response and Recovery (Spring 2023)

 

Undergraduate Classes:

  • Public Policy Analysis (Spring 2024) ·

  • Power in Transitions: Politics, Policy, and Governance (Winter 2025)

 

Middlebury Institute of International Studies (August 2021–May 2022) - Graduated Classes

  • Power Dynamics of the Middle East ·

  • Advanced GIS

  • LinkedIn

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© 2026 Saif Tarek. All rights reserved.

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