On teaching and learning

Unlike many of my peers who are historians at universities, I not only majored in history as an undergraduate; I was certified to teach it in secondary schools and did so for one year in Adana, Turkey. I never lost sight of the importance of teaching and learning due to this and my own personal experiences. Indeed, recognizing the value of education has particular relevance for me, as my own mother was illiterate and my father never progressed beyond the first few years of elementary school. I prospered and thrived in school due to particular teachers and my family’s belief that education was the only way to advance beyond our modest circumstances.