Current Graduate StudentsOur current cohort of graduate students is a diverse, lively, and productive group with varied backgrounds and research interests. |
|
MA Program
Jacob ClaussenResearch interests: Environmental/Climate Policy, International Organizations, Party Politics and Judicial Behavior/Decisionmaking. Brittany N. EssweinPublic Policy and American Politics Research Interests: Health policy and American Political Development Julia HellwegeComparative Politics Research Interests: Identity Politics; self-determination, and political theory Willard HunterAmerican Politics Research Interests: Impact of drug policies on aspects of societies, congressional elections, and national security Jessica JonesInternational Relations Research Interests: National Defense and Security, Counter-terrorism, WMD Proliferation PhD Program
Alex AdamsAmerican Politics, Methodology Research Interests: Happiness, Elections, Political Behavior, and Quantitative Methodology Prakash AdhikariPhD Candidate International Relations, Comparative Politics Research Interests: Conflict, Forced Migration, and Transitional Justice Theodore BolstadInternational Relations, American Politics Research Interests: Interstate war, Asian Politics, Terrorism Benjamin BoninInternational Relations, Comparative Politics Research Interests: Civil War and Insurgency, Middle East Politics, Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation, Arms Control Yury BosinPhD Candidate International Relations, Comparative politics Research Interests: Quality of Elections: Measurement and Comparative Analysis, International Aid and Democratization, Counter-Insurgency and Reconstruction in Afghanistan, Central Asian Politics. Lisa A. BryantAmerican Politics, Methodology Research Interests: Campaigns and Elections, Political Behavior, Race, Ethnicity and Gender, Representation and Congress Grant BurrierComparative Politics, International Relations Justin DelacourPhD Candidate Meg EdwardsPhD Candidate Comparative Politics, International Relations Research Interests: Latin American politics, quantitative methodology, social movements, contentious politics, political parties, and institutions Angelina L. González-AllerAmerican Politics, Public Policy Research Interests: Racial and Ethnic Politics, American Health Policy, Representation and Congress Philip HultquistPhD Candidate International Relations, Comparative Politics Research Interests:Civil War (initiation and termination); International Relations (interstate bargaining and territorial disputes); Comparative Politics (transitions to and the stability of democracy) Yann P. KerevelComparative Politics, American Politics Research Interests: The comparative study of electoral systems, election administration, legislative behavior, political parties, and elections Oraz KichiyevPhD Candidate Comparative Politics, International Relations Michele LeibyPhD Candidate International Relations, Comparative Politics Research Interests: Human Rights, Gender Studies Political violence, civil conflict, methodology Dissertation: My dissertation, entitled, “State-Perpetrated Sexual Violence in Latin American Civil Wars,” addresses two primary empirical puzzles: (1) levels and patterns of sexual violence vary not only across conflicts, but also within the same conflict over time and across space; and (2) state security forces may, but do not always, view sexual violence as a legitimate and effective strategy of counterinsurgency warfare. I find against common arguments that sexual violence is simply the unfortunate, illicit behavior of a few soldiers acting in isolation. I find that the training practices and operating procedures of the armed forces not only condone the use of sexual violence against those labeled “enemies of the state” but also punish its own members who refuse to participate in such acts. I find that racial, economic and gender hierarchies within military, police, and intelligence agencies legitimize the use of violence against particular segments of the population. These hierarchies appear to be a necessary precondition to the state’s use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Lastly, I examine the impact of domestic and international constraints on state behavior and respect for human rights. I find positive indications that foreign governments, transnational human rights organizations and domestic political institutions can provide important constraints on a state’s ability to perpetrate mass sexual violence. mleiby@unm.edu Personal website Jason L. MorinPhD Candidate American Politics, Comparative Politics Research Interests: American Politics, Race and Ethnicity in the United States, and Representation in Judicial and Legislative Institutions Ron NikoraAmerican Politics, Comparative Politics Research Interests: Minority party politics, race and ethnicity, health policy, Japanese politics Kimberly Nolan GarciaPhD Candidate International Relations, Comparative Politics Research Interests: Latin American political and economic development; global governance; transnational advocacy; labor rights enforcement. Albert PalmaPhD Candidate Marina A Primak KingsburyPhD Candidate International Relations, Comparative Politics Research Interests: welfare reform, the impact of globalization in post-communist Eastern Europe Kim ProctorComparative Politics, International Relations Research Interests: Gender, war crimes, truth commissions, Latin American politics Mark PustayNick RowellPhD Candidate Comparative Politics, International Relations Research Interests: His broader research interests include the contemporary and historical intersections of religion, human rights advocacy, social movements, political violence, and/or left-wing politics in Latin America. His dissertation (in progress) investigates the underlying causes of the Catholic Church's varying responses to human rights abuses in Latin America since the 1960s. Steven SamfordPhD Candidate Comparative Politics, International Relations Research Interests: Political Economy, International Organizations, Latin America Lori TafoyaAmerican Politics, Public Policy Research Interests: Political behavior, political campaigns, methods. Political participation, the internet and politics James TimberlakeJohn TodsenPhD Candidate American Politics, International Relations jtodsen@unm.edu Personal website Eric WallaceInternational Relations, Comparative Politics Diana WaltersFelipe WilsonComparative Politics, International Relations Research Interests: Social movements, civil wars Michael WolffComparative Politics, International Relations Research Interests: Latin American Politics: Public Security/Policing/Civil War |