My two main priorities when teaching are to 1) foster an equitable environment where each student feels that they are able to do their best work – and that their work is valuable, and 2) show my students how course content can improve their everyday lives and communities in meaningful ways. In the social sciences, the connections between the course material and its application to the world outside of academia are often clear to those who teach and do research – and it is up to us to make those connections clear to our students. I design my course content, materials, and assignments all with these two priorities in mind. My courses should leave students with the understanding that their work has value, and that they can use their work to better the world around them.