I teach because I believe our Republic depends on developing thoughtful participants who navigate complexity with grace. My students are the most brilliant young people I’ve ever met; I simply give them the same gifts I give my own children: respect, critical thought, and benevolent autonomy. Every student who emerges more sure of themselves is a win for our future. It's not just history I teach; I am blessed enough to mentor those kids who will eventually design a better world for all of us.

Beyond history, I lead a global travel program. In a Japanese dining hall filled with wide-eyed students in yukatas, I overheard one say, "I can’t believe I’m here. I don't know how to explain it. " At home, she was so mousy and quiet we joked about putting a bell on her. Watching her world expand in that moment changed me. Two years later, that quiet girl accepted a study abroad placement in London and is now training to be a global leader. Travel didn't just change her; it found her.

I would establish the base of a travel scholarship fund to ensure financial barriers never stop a brilliant mind from seeing the world. My goal is to send students—especially the quiet ones who haven't yet found their voice—on programs where they move from observers of history to architects of the future. By removing some of these economic hurdles, I am investing in the thoughtful participants our country needs, transforming local learners into the confident global leaders our future requires.