It is both a privilege and a blessing to serve as a professor of Political Science at St. Petersburg College (SPC), where I have taught for over a decade. My mission is to empower my students to succeed academically and unlock their potential to improve the socio-economic well-being of their families and communities. I believe teaching thrives in a caring environment that fosters mutual respect, critical thinking, civic engagement, and hope for a better future in this great United States of America. As Cicero said, “What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation.” For me, teaching is far more than a job. It is also a lifelong calling and a service to humanity. My journey began at SPC in 2004 with English as a Second Language courses. I earned my Bachelor’s in Public Safety Administration (Law Enforcement focus) from SPC in 2007, then completed a Master’s in Political Science (Comparative Politics and International Relations) and a Ph.D. in Government at the University of South Florida (USF). My expertise centers on U.S. foreign policy, especially Middle Eastern and Balkan politics. In addition to my long-term role at SPC, I have taught international studies courses at USF since 2013 and previously taught American Government and Political Science at Hillsborough Community College from 2011 to 2016. I am the author of "US Foreign Policy in the Middle East: The Case for Continuity" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017), proudly endorsed by Professor John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago.