In both my teaching and research, ideas matter

I aim to give my students the tools to understand the American polity. I aim to teach not only legal doctrine, but also about the legal system as a whole—the people and institutions that create the doctrine, as well as the broader political system in which it operates. In particular, I believe you cannot understand contemporary American law or politics without a thorough knowledge of political history and the Constitution.

I’ve included a sample of my TA evaluations below.

College/University TA Experience

  • Civil Liberties (Professor HW Perry). The University of Texas at Austin, 2021.

  • Constitutional Interpretation (Professor HW Perry). The University of Texas at Austin, 2020.

  • US Foreign Policy (Online). (Professor Patrick McDonald). The University of Texas at Austin, 2020.

  • Constitutional Interpretation (Professor HW Perry). The University of Texas at Austin, 2020.

  • Constitutional Interpretation (Professor HW Perry). The University of Texas at Austin, 2019.

  • American Government (Online). (Professors Eric McDaniel & Daron Shaw). The University of Texas at Austin, 2019.

  • Civil Liberties (Professor HW Perry). The University of Texas at Austin, 2019.

  • EU/Regional Integration (Professor Zeynep Somer-Topcu). The University of Texas at Austin, 2017.

  • The American President (Professor Bruce Buchanan). The University of Texas at Austin, 2016.

A sample of comments from my TA evaluations:

  • “Allen is a phenomenal TA. He answers questions in a timely manner and is always making time for his students. He is respectful, kind, and goes above and beyond the normal duties of a TA. He also is a great teacher (he lectured for us during one class) and is very passionate about the course material. Allen is organized, intelligent, and a very good communicator. [Spring 2020]

  • “Allen was the best TA I have ever had.” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen was by far the best TA I have had at any institution.” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen is the best teaching assistant that the university has to offer. He is extremely intelligent, passionate, and so caring about his students. He will go the extra mile and then some just to help a student succeed. Allen is going to make an incredible professor and continue on his path of greatness. Thank you Allen!!! You are so appreciated.” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen has been the most outstanding teaching assistant I have ever had the privilege of working with. He is knowledgeable, smart, kind and very responsive to questions.” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen is the best TA I have ever had. He is so kind and helpful.” [Spring 2021]

  • “Allen was a truly amazing TA. This class can easily feel intimidating to most students with the rigor and substance but Allen makes it truly worthwhile with his great assistance with all the material. He always made himself available and answered all of my questions. Even with the transition online he was very focused on providing us with office hours and being as helpful as possible. Honestly, I don’t know where I would be in this class without Allen. Truly one of the best TA’s at UT Austin! If he gets paid, give him a RAISE! I always knew what he was talking about and never made me feel dumb about any question. He was always personable which made everything feel less intimidating. Thanks Allen!” [Spring 2020]

  • “Allen is one of the most helpful and kindest TAs that I have had over the course of my collegiate career thus far.” [Spring 2020]

  • “Good TA, great student, even greater guy. This TA took care of his duties professionally . . . . Though I was doubtful, when this TA lead discussion on behalf of an absent professor, this TA was every bit as engaging and insightful as [the professor] himself.” [Spring 2020]

  • “Allen was a huge help and was always available. He was the most qualified TA I’ve encountered at U.T. His dedication to student[s] was obvious and I value his contribution to our class.” [Fall 2019]

  • “Allen was a wonderful TA who always communicated his availability and was very enthusiastic and helpful when explaining and discussing course content. He clearly is invested in helping us students and I really appreciated and enjoyed when he hosted review sessions and discussion sessions related to course content that were topical, interesting, and useful. Allen is an incredibly knowledgeable guy that answers emails super fast and cares about his job!” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen is arguably one of the best Teaching Assistants I've had the pleasure of knowing at UT. Not only did he respond to e-mails quickly, but he was also kind, patient, highly intelligent, and ultimately cared about all of the students and their success. For example, Allen graciously took the time to include thorough notes on each student's exam, so we knew what we did well and what we needed to improve on. Whatever Allen does in the future will be great, especially if he is a professor, since he has the drive, passion, and intelligence to do so.” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen is widely revered by all of the students in our class for his dedication to our learning. His lightning fast responses to emails is one his many talents. The review sessions he held prior to each test were thorough and well organized. Before each of these, he prepared heavily and asked us to email him, prior to the review session, with any significant questions so that he was able to prepare an adequate and well-thought response. During these review sessions, he would guide us through the main features of the cases and address any questions that might have arisen during the course of the session. These sessions, while long, were extremely engaging, as Allen spoke with energy and humor. Please keep him around as an instructor/professor.” [Fall 2020]

  • “Allen has been a fantastic TA for this course. He is always available during his office hours and has gone above and beyond, even staying late to answer my questions. During office hours, Allen is very helpful and is able to answer all of my questions in a clear and thought-provoking manner. Discussing the topics of this course with Allen in office hours has given me a deeper appreciation and understanding for the content than I would have gained through instructional hours alone. He is truly a great TA and educator.” [Spring 2021]

  • “Allen is definitely the most qualified and passionate TA I've had in college. I deeply appreciate him taking the time to provide constructive feedback on my midterm and brief. He made himself very available to help us, especially on test days where many (including myself) experienced some tech stressors.” [Spring 2021]

  • “Allen was always kind and understanding whenever I would talk to him. He was quick to respond to emails and would make me feel like I mattered.” [Spring 2021]