Dr. Brian Blankenship
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Political Science and History, Indiana University
MA in Political Science, Columbia University
PhD in Political Science, Columbia University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL 203: Intro to International Relations
POL 327: War, Diplomacy, and Influence
POL 347: American Foreign Policy
POL 350: International Cooperation
POL 355: Theories and Debates in International Relations
Broad Description of Research Interests:
International security; U.S. foreign policy; military alliances; NATO
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Previously held fellowships at the RAND Corporation and Council on Foreign Relations. Can provide advice on working with think tanks related to international relations and, to a somewhat lesser extent, careers in government related to foreign policy.
Dr. Cali Curley
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
Florida State University, Ph.D. Public Administration and Policy 8/2014
Florida State University, M.S. Economics 8/2010.
Florida State University, B.S. Economics w/ minor Mathematics, 8/2009
Florida State University, B.S. Political Science w/ minor International Affairs 8/2009.
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
Policy Process and Implementation; Policy Analysis; Program Evaluation; Collaborative Governance; Politics of the Administrative Process; Introduction to Public Policy
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Cali’s research focuses on policy design decisions by local and state governments, particularly as related to environmental policy and other current policy issues.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Cali can provide career guidance for those interested in the public sector. As Director of Graduate Studies, she offers insight into degree options such as the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Public Policy (MPP).
Dr. June Dreyer
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA Wellesley, MA and PhD Harvard; Yale Institute of Far Eastern Languages summer school
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
US Defense Policy; Chinese Politics; Chinese Foreign Policy
Broad Description of Research Interests:
China, Japan, Taiwan. Asian Security broadly. US and comparative defense policies.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Library of Congress, Defense Intelligence Agency, US-China Economic and Security Commission
Dr. Dilara Hekimci
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Political Science and International Relations at Bahçeşehir University
MA in Philosophy and Social Thought at Bilgi University in Turkey
PhD in Political Science at Florida International University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL202: Intro to Comparative Politics
POL386: Democratic Consolidation
POL389: Global Populism
POL527: Comparative Political Institutions
POL599: Politics of Turkey
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Autocratization, Populism, and Opposition Strategies in Developing Countries: Particularly the Cases of Turkey and Hungary.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Worked in academia in both Turkey and the US. Can provide advice on academic careers and studying abroad.
Dr. Casey Klofstad
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MA and PhD in Political Science, Harvard University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL 201: Intro to American Politics
POL 351: Public Opinion
POL 401: The Election
POL 548: Civic Participation
Broad Description of Research Interests:
American politics; public opinion; political behavior
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Professional experience in polling/survey research
Bradford R. McGuinn
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
State University of New York (BA)
University of Miami (PhD)
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL338: Politics of the Middle East
POL392: International Terrorism
POL387: Politics of the Middle East
POL348: US-Middle East Relations
POL575: Politics of Civil-Military Relations
POL586: Conflicts in the Middle East and Africa
POL576: On Violence
POL577: Security in South Asia
POL572: Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Middle Eastern Studies, Civil-Military Relations, Politics of Disaster Management
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Lecturer, military groups. Can provide advice on careers in national security.
Dr. Matt Nelsen
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
St. Olaf College (BA Political Science and Asian Studies; Latin American Studies concentration)
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
Intro to American Government
Race and Ethnic Politics in the United States
Urban Politics
Education Politics and Policy
Broad Description of Research Interests:
My work explores the possibilities and challenges of forging a vibrant, multiracial democracy in the United States. This includes projects on political socialization in public schools and the role of geography in shaping political attitudes and preferences.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
I have worked on political campaigns, as a 5th-grade public school teacher, a research associate at a real estate/urban planning consulting firm, and frequently work as a research consultant for organizations that conduct national surveys of young people.
I also have experience in the arts sector, having worked in development at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and as a research associate at the University of Chicago’s Cultural Policy Center.
Stephanie Puello
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
Ph.D., Public Affairs – University of Colorado Denver
M.A., Higher Education Administration – University of Denver
B.A., Political Science – Florida International University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL 596/696: U.S. Election Administration & Challenges
POL 508/608: Equity & Diversity in Public Administration
POL 319: Politics of the Administrative Process
Ethics in Public Service (University of Colorado Denver)
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Civic/political participation and activism, felony disenfranchisement, voting rights, election administration, citizen-state interactions
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
I worked in higher education on the administration side for ten years, mostly supporting graduate students, so I’m happy to mentor students interested in graduate study. I have also involved with several community engagements and can provide guidance for students looking to get involved in their community. I am available to provide mentorship in these areas: Graduate school preparation, Community engagement/service learning, Academic advising, Mentorship for underrepresented students
Dr. Arthur M. Simon
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
UM: B.B.A. & J.D.
Harvard (Kennedy School of Government): MPA
FSU: Ph.D. (Public Administration)
Favorite Classes Taught:
Introduction to Game Theory (POL 519/619)
State Government and Politics (POL 342)
Other Classes Taught:
American Presidency (POL 315)
Constitutional Law 1 (POL 373)
Administrative Law (POL 526/626)
Law, Policy, and Management of Nonprofit Organizations (POL 524/624)
Broad Description of Research Interests: American Presidency
Professional Experiences:
Commissioned Officer, U.S.M.C. , Appellate Attorney, FL State Legislator (12 years), Senior Manager in the FL Department of Banking and Finance (8 years)
Areas in Which You Could Serve as a Mentor: Pre-law advising
Joseph Uscinski
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
B.A., Plymouth State College
M.A., University of New Hampshire
Ph.D., University of Arizona
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL311: Conspiracy Theories
Broad Description of Research Interests:
American Politics, Conspiracy Theories, Media
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Students interested in careers in journalism, media, or students looking into graduate programs.
Dr. Jennifer Connolly
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
Elon University – BA in Journalism and Political Science
University of Southern California – PhD in Public Policy and Management
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL 319 – Politics of the Administrative Process
POL 321 – Introduction to Public Policy
POL 610 – Statistics for Public Administration and Policy
POL 622 – Introduction to Graduate Public Administration
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Prof. Connolly is a public management scholar with a focus on local governance. Dr. Connolly’s research centers on three broad themes. First, she examines local government management, specifically the principal-agent relationship between elected councils and appointed managers. Second, she studies municipal service provision and resource allocation. Third, she examines communication between local governments and their residents about current policy issues and how residents view these issues.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Public Administration, Local Government, City Management
Dr. Louise Davidson-Schmich
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in International Relations (Brown University)
MA and PhD in Political Science (Duke University)
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL202: Intro to Comparative Politics
POL381: Western European Politics
POL382: German Politics
POL344: Gender and Politics
POL569: LGBTI Politics
POL581: Comparative Political Economy
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Gender and sexuality in politics, German politics.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
I was a Fulbright English teaching assistant before I went to graduate school and I have held grants to work in Germany and New Zealand. I can mentor students interested in applying for prestigious awards and fellowships, working in Germany, attending graduate school, or working with advocacy organizations related to gender, sexuality, or social justice.
Laura Gomez-Mera
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Economics (U. de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
MSc. International Political Economy (LSE)
PhD. Politics & International Relations
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL592 IPE, POL582 PE of Development, POL597 Illicit Trade in the Global Economy
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Global governance, International organizations, International investment and trade agreements, human trafficking, migration
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
I have consulted for several international organizations, including the World Bank, the UN Development Program, and UNICEF on trade and macroeconomic policy, foreign direct investment, business regulations, and development more generally (on a variety of countries, including Russia, China, Qatar, Moldova, Uruguay, Indonesia, and Turkey).
Katrin Fraser Katz
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
Northwestern University (Ph.D.)
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (MALD)
University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
International Politics
Korea-Japan Relations
International Relations of East Asia
Border Disputes in the 21st Century
Intelligence and National Security
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Conflict and cooperation in East Asia’s political, economic, and security dynamics; regional and international orders; human rights
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Government service (previously served on the staff of the National Security Council, as a special assistant to an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of State, and as an analyst at the CIA).
Work in think tanks (currently a non-resident adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC and a non-resident senior fellow at The Korea Society in New York).
Fulbright program (worked as a Fulbright English teaching assistant in South Korea after college).
Dr. Dr. Gregory Koger
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Political Science and Philosophy, Willamette University
Ph.D. in Political Science, UCLA
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
American politics
Broad Description of Research Interests:
I research American political organizations and institutions, especially the U.S. Congress and political parties.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
I previously worked as a staff member for a U.S. House Representative. I mentor students who are active in campaigns, government service, legal work, and research.
Dr. Sharon McIntyre
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Business Management, Florida International University
MPA in Public Administration
PhD in Conflict Resolution, Nova Southeastern University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL 508/608: Equity and Diversity in Public Administration
POL 503/606: Organizational Dynamics and Management
POL 319: Politics of the Administrative Process
POL 546/646: Public Policy Process and Implementation
POL 556/654: Politics and Ethics
POL 540/647: Human Resource Management in Public Service
POL 557/657: Ethical and Managerial Issues in Government, Business, and Non-Profit Organizations
Broad Description of Research Interests:
Policy analysis, public sector ethics, human rights, social change, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, and various levels of peacebuilding programs (civil society and government). Government implementation of policies and 9/11's implications for peace and conflict resolution.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Member of the American Society for Public Administration and the Association for Conflict Resolution.
Expertise in policy analysis, public sector ethics, human rights, social change, intercultural communication, and peacebuilding programs.
Dr. Costantino Pischedda
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in Political Science from University of Florence (Italy)
MA in Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies
PhD in Political Science from Columbia University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
International Security
Civil Wars
International Relations
Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Conflict
Psychology and International Relations
Broad Description of Research Interests:
International security and political violence.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
I worked at a think tank in DC and at the World Bank. I could serve as a mentor for someone interested in a career in international institutions and in the policy world (in particular in international security).
Dr. Ruowen Shen
Undergraduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BA in International Politics, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing, China
Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
Master of Public Administration, University of Miami
PhD in Public Administration, Florida State University
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
POL 510/610: Statistics for Politics and Public Administration
POL 601: Budget & Financial Management and Administration
Broad Description of Research Interests:
As an urban governance scholar, I study collaborative networks between local governments in urban sustainability; politics in inter-governmental relations; and assess equity outcomes of urban policies.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Urban policies; working with local governments and community organizations; quantitative analysis (e.g., network analysis, GIS, etc.); and qualitative analysis.
Michael Touchton
Undergraduate/ Graduate Institutions + Degrees Earned:
BS in Engineering/BA in Political Science, Virginia Tech
MA and PhD in Political Science, University of Colorado, Boulder
Classes Taught or Favorite Class to Teach:
Latin American Politics and African Politics
Broad Description of Research Interests:
I study comparative governance and human development performance, most prominently in terms of health outcomes. In practice, I evaluate institutions, policies, programs, and processes that are designed to improve development outcomes and assess their effectiveness— for whom, under what circumstances, etc. Most of my research is in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.
Professional Experiences / Areas in which you could serve as a mentor:
Quantitative Methods; Field Research; Work with the U.S. State Department, the World Bank, as well as other multilateral organizations and global non-profits.
