Teaching - Clay Davis

Science in Crisis? (SOC 392)

Clay Davis · 2022

Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award

Northwestern University Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences · May 2025

Robert F. Winch Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor

Northwestern University Department of Sociology · January 2024

Robert F. Winch Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant

Northwestern University Department of Sociology · January 2023

A complete list of awards is available on my CV.

Science in Crisis? · Spring 2025

Instructor of record

Provide an overall rating of the instruction.

5.67/6 (n=9)

Rate the effectiveness of the instructor in stimulating your interest in the subject.

5.75/6 (n=8)

Rate how well prepared the instructor was for the class.

5.89/6 (n=9)

Rate the effectiveness with which the instructor communicated course content and ideas.

5.89/6 (n=9)

Rate the instructor's enthusiasm in teaching this class.

5.89/6 (n=9)

Rate the instructor's efforts to highlight the interesting nature of the subject.

5.89/6 (n=9)

Rate how well the instructor encouraged you to think for yourself.

5.89/6 (n=9)

Rate the helpfulness of the instructor outside of class.

6/6 (n=9)

Rate how well the instructor contrasted the implications of various theories.

6/6 (n=9)

Provide an overall rating of the course.

5.44/6 (n=9)

Estimate how much you learned in the course.

5.78/6 (n=9)

Rate the effectiveness of the course in challenging you intellectually.

5.89/6 (n=9)

Rate the instructional materials (texts, audiovisual materials, etc.) used in this course.

5.78/6 (n=9)

Rate how much effort you put into this course in comparison to other courses.

5.22/6 (n=9)

Rate how well this course helped you improve your ability to read critically.

5.67/6 (n=9)

Rate how well the exams stress important points of the lectures/readings/discussions.

5.78/6 (n=9)

Rate the clarity of examples.

5.67/6 (n=9)

“I learned a ton. Prof Davis is one of the best I have had at NU. I am very sad I won’t be able to take another with him!”

“The syllabus was designed in a logical and engaging way, moving from foundational theoretical texts to extensions and concrete applications of those ideas. The themes we covered throughout the course allowed us to explore a range of pressing issues at the intersection of science, technology and society. Clay was especially effective at tailoring the course to the class participants’ interests while maintaining a solid structure. The class meetings themselves were just the right balance of lecturing and discussion; Clay provided us with the conceptual tools and mutual understanding of the content before guiding us in more open discussions. Finally, I really enjoyed writing the papers assigned throughout the quarter, as they allowed me to apply new theoretical lenses to topics that I already had a deep interest in.”

“This course was great! Clay is literally amazing and does a great job of making the sociological theories and info this course accessible to students who may not be studying sociology.”

“This is probably my favorite class that I’ve taken throughout my time at NU. The readings each week were so thought–provoking, and I believe students of any major would benefit from the materials and discussions.”

“Taking it with Clay was also a great experience because he is so knowledgeable and down–to-earth, and a great communicator when it comes to explaining some very complex ideas and topics.”

“Clay was skilled at making complex theories and concepts understandable to students with and without sociological backgrounds. In classroom discussions, he effectively encouraged us to make our own connections between materials and real–world cases, which helped clearly explain the significance of the arguments that we covered. He also fostered a classroom environment where it felt safe and productive to explore diverging perspectives on serious social issues. Finally, Clay clearly took the time to get to know each class participant and showed a sincere interest in our growth. He is a wonderful instructor and human, and I’m grateful to have gotten to learn from him.”

“Clay was clearly invested in this topic, and he really put in so much effort to make this class an effective intro to STS. The readings he selected were quintessential reads in the field, and they were really impactful and engaging. He effectively led discussions among the class, leading to really fruitful classes.”

“Incredible communicator, especially when it comes to more complex ideas. I felt like Clay was so great at synthesizing main ideas and arguments of the authors in a way that was easy to understand and compelling. "

Provide an overall rating of the instruction.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate the effectiveness of the instructor in stimulating your interest in the subject.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate how well prepared the instructor was for the class.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate the effectiveness with which the instructor communicated course content and ideas.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate the instructor's enthusiasm in teaching this class.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate the instructor's efforts to highlight the interesting nature of the subject.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate how well the instructor encouraged you to think for yourself.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate the helpfulness of the instructor outside of class.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate how well the instructor contrasted the implications of various theories.

6/6 (n=8)

Rate the extent to which the course built your confidence in engaging with a new academic field or discipline.

5.57/6 (n=7)

Rate the quality of the feedback that the instructor provided on written assignments and projects.

6/6 (n=7)

Provide an overall rating of the course.

5.88/6 (n=8)

Estimate how much you learned in the course.

5.75/6 (n=8)

Rate the effectiveness of the course in challenging you intellectually.

5.63/6 (n=8)

Rate the instructional materials (texts, audiovisual materials, etc.) used in this course.

5.25/6 (n=8)

Rate how much effort you put into this course in comparison to other courses.

4.75/6 (n=8)

Rate how well this course helped you improve your ability to read critically.

5.63/6 (n=8)

Rate how well the exams stress important points of the lectures/readings/discussions.

5/6 (n=8)

Rate the clarity of examples.

5.63/6 (n=8)

“Helped me begin thinking about the ways in which modern science and politics are intertwined…”

“Yes, the course was split into helpful modules that made digesting the readings and information very manageable. The cohesive themes that corresponded with our midterm writing assignments…”

“really interesting class and topics were incorporated well into discussions on current events! professor Davis was very interactive during discussions and he always seemed excited to talk about the readings with the class”

“Really engaging topics, professor was great at helping us understand more complicated readings, and writing the essays helped solidify my comprehension as well!”

“Genuinely one of the most prepared professors I’ve seen. Always comes into class with a million different topics we could talk about, and always highlights the import aspects of each reading so that we make sure we understand, but does it in a way that makes us tell him. Always super responsive and supportive to students…”

“very knowledgable, enthusiastic in generating discussion, good at breaking concepts into smaller pieces for student comprehension, engaging and brings in useful multimedia examples to expand upon content, asks for and listens to students input to better format assignments and readings”

“i learned the most from the paper 2 prompt. applying class concepts and theories to a piece of scientific writing allowed me to see how the things we discussed in class translate to real life. while it is one thing to conceptualize terms and concepts like the lay public and expertise on paper, it is another to see the real process that occurs when science is displayed through media. especially in a media driven world, i found this assignment insightful in relation to the course and useful to my own personal understandings of how science and society interact in the current moment.”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.82/6 (n=17)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

6/6 (n=17)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.76/6 (n=17)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.94/6 (n=17)

“Clay went above and beyond as a TA and I am so grateful for him! He gave in depth presentations on the important points of each of the papers, which were super helpful to use when studying for the final. He treats every student with kindness and is a great listener during class and in office hours. Thank you Clay for your hard work and dedication to this class!”

“Great TA; thank you for the office hours. I feel like Clay made expectations regarding assignments pretty clear, and his one–time lecture was one of my highlights of the course.”

“I think Clay will make a great professor one day. I liked how he presented the theory and clearly explained future essay improvements.”

“His lectures were incredibly thoughtful and detailed, it is evident that he understands the material he is teaching and cares about the students’ learning experience. His lectures were thought–provoking, engaging, and insightful. Every time this TA taught, the class and I understood precisely what each reading and assignment was about and its purpose in sociological theory. His feedback on essay assignments went above and beyond, providing extensive details on what worked and what could be further developed— and how to do so. His insights and teaching method showcase the impact that the lecturer has on students’ learning and curiosity in the classroom!”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.54/6 (n=26)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

5.6/6 (n=25)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.62/6 (n=26)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.65/6 (n=26)

“…a very clear academic speaker. Can tell he has spent a lot of time reading, thinking, and writing. Best TA I’ve had.”

“Excellent professor and very nice person as well. very knowledgeable about the topics and also has a great critical eye for helping you develop your essays. thanks to him, my writing improved a lot.”

“Response, easygoing, and knowledgeable even led lectures for a class, which was amazing to see.”

“Clay cared a lot about or discussions and how well we did in the class. He was a great resource and advocate to have, and our discussions were dictated by student interest and were well–taught.”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.69/6 (n=16)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

5.88/6 (n=16)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.69/6 (n=16)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.88/6 (n=16)

“Clay was the best TA I’ve ever had. His lectures were very informative and his feedback was very helpful. I’m sure he’ll be a fantastic prof.”

“Clay is my favorite TA ever. They always gave a lot of feedback on papers and also gave fantastic presentations every Tuesday reviewing important ideas and providing insight about how to improve our papers.”

“incredibly organized, intelligent and engaging”

“Clay was great and complemented Professor Espeland’s style by giving a very methodical overview of the concepts.”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.75/6 (n=8)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

5.75/6 (n=8)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.38/6 (n=8)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.5/6 (n=8)

“Clay did a fantastic job! His feedback on my individual papers was really specific and helpful, and the presentations he did every week to go over the class’s papers as a whole were great resources. He was super well–organized and helpful.”

“He gave the best and most timely comments on our essays.”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.77/6 (n=13)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

5.85/6 (n=13)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.85/6 (n=13)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.69/6 (n=13)

“Clay gave great feedback on our essays and was overall very helpful!”

“He was prompt in answering emails and helping facilitate the online lectures!”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.59/6 (n=17)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

5.65/6 (n=17)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.53/6 (n=17)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.41/6 (n=17)

“I believe I became a stronger writer after reading Clay’s comments on my papers. I appreciated the time that Clay took to suggest ways to make my papers stronger”

“one of my favorite TAs so far! he was very understanding, prompt, and had a gentle and understanding manner. he summarized points clearly and gave great feedback that was insightful on our weekly papers. he was very kind and seemed to be passionate & knowledgable”

“[Clay’s] summaries and mini–lectures at the start of classes were definitely vital for my understanding of the class…”

“Clay is very knowledgeable and helpful, as well as willing to go the extra mile to make sure a student understands a concept. I also appreciated their organization skills and how clearly and concisely they relayed information.”

The TA was able to answer the students' questions adequately.

5.57/6 (n=28)

The TA was well prepared for each session.

5.71/6 (n=28)

The TA communicated ideas in a clear manner.

5.64/6 (n=28)

The TA showed strong interest in teaching the course.

5.57/6 (n=28)

“Clay was an amazing TA. He was kind and responsive and always gave help when asked for and was a great part of this class.”

“Clay was the best!! He helped manage the Zoom platform with ease, guided the class, and gave great feedback on assignments. I really appreciated him as a TA this quarter!”

“Clay was a great TA and was an asset to the class! His lecture was great, he was very involved in the class and students’ success, was always helpful over email, and clearly cared about students”

Syllabi

Courses that I have developed and taught

Science in Crisis? (SOC 392)

Teaching Awards

Selected awards and recognition for teaching excellence

Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award

Robert F. Winch Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor

Robert F. Winch Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant

A complete list of awards is available on my CV.