My approach to teaching emphasizes connection, empathy, curiosity, and transparency, rooted in the belief that, as bell hooks writes, “The classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy.” I center the English classroom at the nexus of students’ interdisciplinary experiences of college, challenging them to connect literary themes and class discussions with their chosen careers and majors. Students might find themselves advocating for new laws or community initiatives to combat food insecurity in New York City, or recording a podcast episode that reveals the untold story of a fictional character.