Teaching

I enjoy teaching political science classes in public law and American politics for undergraduate, graduate, and law students. My teaching interests include Judicial Politics, Constitutional Law (Structure and Civil rights/Liberties), Judicial Process, American Political Institutions, and Southern Politics. I am also prepared to teach law school courses in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and State and Local Government.

I received the 2022 Martin Edelman Award for Outstanding Teaching and Undergraduate Research and the 2020 UT’s Government Department’s Outstanding Assistant Instructor Teaching Award for my work.

Instructor of Record:

Spring 2023, UAlbany-SUNY, Topics: Anti-Discrimination Law (RPOS 399, Honors, Graduate Seminar)

Spring 2023, UAlbany-SUNY, Constitutional Law 1 (RPOS 426Z/526)(Writing Seminar, Honors,)

Fall 2022, UAlbany-SUNY, Constitutional Law 1 (RPOS 426Z/526)(Writing Seminar, Honors, Graduate Seminar)

Fall 2022, UAlbany-SUNY, The American Supreme Court (RPOS 335)

Spring 2022, UAlbany-SUNY, Constitutional Law 1 (RPOS 426Z)(Writing Seminar)

Spring 2022, UAlbany-SUNY, Topics: Anti-Discrimination Law (RPOS 399)

Spring 2022, UAlbany-SUNY, The American Supreme Court (RPOS 335)

Fall 2021, UAlbany-SUNY, The American Supreme Court, (RPOS 335), (40 Enrolled)

Fall 2019, UT-Austin, American Government and Texas Politics (GOV310L), (210 Enrolled) Evaluations 4.4/5

Spring 2019, UT-Austin, American Government and Texas Politics (GOV310L), (70 Enrolled) Evaluations 4.8/5

Student Reviews:

“I really appreciate how [Bird] understands her students and knows not all of us our government majors. I feel like her teaching style really makes lecture easy to understand and interesting. Best professor I’ve had so far.”

“I love [Bird] I think she’s very engaging, even though it’s a large class she allows everyone to ask questions and contribute. Assignments are enjoyable even when I would not like this content otherwise.”

“I appreciate how historical facts are told as stories, and we get a lot of examples of complicated terms, I like relating government to current issues, the professor’s sense of humor, and the neutrality of how the information is presented.”

Teaching Assistant

Fall 2021, American Campaigns and Elections, (GOV312L) (ONLINE), for Sean Theriault and Bethany Albertson

Summer 2020, Human Rights, (ONLINE), for Rhonda Evans

Spring 2020, Introduction to American Government and Texas Politics (GOV310L) (ONLINE), for Sean Theriault and Bethany Albertson

Spring 2017, Civil Liberties (GOV357M), for Gary Jacobsohn

Fall 2016, Constitutional Interpretation (GOV357M), for HW Perry