High interest rate
As a teacher of law and politics, I have always been interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. I like to keep abreast of current cases to examine the outcomes and how the decisions are handled by the press. I recently co-authored an article titled "Splitting the Baby" that focuses on the topic of Affirmative Action and the impact of two recent companion cases—Grutter versus Bollinger and Gratz versus Bollinger. In the former case, the Court ruled that it was perfectly acceptable to consider race among other factors in law school admissions—in the latter case, it was decided that admissions relied too heavily on race. Recalling the Biblical story of King Solomon, the press coined the phrase "Splitting the Baby" to describe the actions of the Court and the view that two seemingly contradictory decisions were made in response to public opinion and the desire to satisfy both sides of the Affirmative Action debate.

Eye witness
Despite my strong interest in the Supreme Court, I had never been able to sit in on one of the hearings. By a stroke of luck, I was able to experience the next best thing when on a field trip to Cincinnati, my class was admitted to the courtroom of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, where oral arguments for Grutter versus Bollinger and Gratz versus Bollinger were being heard. It was gratifying to see the students get so excited while witnessing law and politics in action!

Teaching model
While I was in college, I was fortunate to have mentors who truly cared about me and what I would become. While I was an undergraduate considering law school, I had a teacher who not only determined that I would become a better writer, but that I should think seriously about pursuing a teaching career. Her assessment of my gifts was shared by another esteemed professor who later helped me obtain a fellowship to graduate school. While this man could have taught almost anywhere, he chose to teach at a black college. He felt called to serve as a role model for students and suggested that I do the same by joining the ranks of higher education, where black professors were badly needed. I was also inspired by a department chair, whose teaching methods I try to emulate. He had a special way of livening up the class and engaging students through energetic conversation.

Getting engaged
The best part about teaching at Miami is interacting and engaging in lively discourse with bright students who challenge and inspire me to learn.

You heard it here first
People might be surprised to know that I am a doting dad. My kids are very precious to me, and when I am with them, I become an absolute creme puff, especially around my daughter.

Mining potential
While Miami is known for its high caliber of students, many educators feel that some students arrive unprepared for the rigorous standards here and don't belong. In my opinion, it is my job as an educator to harness brain power for acquiring and honing skills. All the teachers I know, including myself, have had someone special in their lives who took an interest in them and helped them prevail over their shortcomings. I want to return the favor. In my opinion, I am obligated to provide encouragement and help the student that's struggling in every way that I can.