SPIA Graduate Students
Rachel Hope Adler
Political Science
Rachel is a Spanish MA student with a focus in Spanish-Israeli international relations. She holds a BA in Spanish and a Minor in German Studies from the University of Cincinnati. Rachel is also proficient in Russian language and has studied Hebrew language at the Hebrew University of Jersualem. Her research interests include Spanish history, Arab-Israeli conflict, Anti-Semitism and Supersessionism, Sephardic Jewish culture and history, and Jewish Literature.
Nathan Bailleux
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Nathan Bailleux is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati.
His previous research includes a thesis presented to Lille Catholic University in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master in International Relations. This thesis was written under the supervision of Dr. Emmanuel Lincot and Dr. Emmanuel Meneut.
The title of the thesis was: « The overlapping of the conventional and nuclear security dilemmas between India and Pakistan following the 2002 nuclear alert: Dynamics of a rivalry between India, Pakistan, and China ».
His research interests include international relations theory, international security, and military doctrine. He specializes in national and international security studies, South Asian security, and technology and politics. Within these fields, his research covers two main areas: India's military effectiveness from a comparative perspective and the study of the India-Pakistan-China triangle from a realist perspective.
His previous research includes a thesis presented to Lille Catholic University in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master in International Relations. This thesis was written under the supervision of Dr. Emmanuel Lincot and Dr. Emmanuel Meneut.
The title of the thesis was: « The overlapping of the conventional and nuclear security dilemmas between India and Pakistan following the 2002 nuclear alert: Dynamics of a rivalry between India, Pakistan, and China ».
His research interests include international relations theory, international security, and military doctrine. He specializes in national and international security studies, South Asian security, and technology and politics. Within these fields, his research covers two main areas: India's military effectiveness from a comparative perspective and the study of the India-Pakistan-China triangle from a realist perspective.
Stephen Michael Bryant
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Stephen Bryant is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. His subfields are International Relations and Comparative Politics. He is also pursuing a doctoral concentration in Feminist Comparative International Politics. He earned his Master's Degree in International Relations from American University and his Bachelor's in Religious Development from Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Stephen’s research interests include transnational feminism, representation of women in conflict settings, religio-political groups, intersections of identity in motivations for engaging in violence, politics of memory, and ISIS activity throughout the Middle East.
Stephen’s research interests include transnational feminism, representation of women in conflict settings, religio-political groups, intersections of identity in motivations for engaging in violence, politics of memory, and ISIS activity throughout the Middle East.
Kanisha Monet Ervin
Ohio Innocence Project Fellow, Political Science
COLLAW
Joy Raafat Girgis
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
My professional experience and interests include politics, social justice, voter engagement, and community activism. I earned by undergraduate degree in Political Science from Eastern Kentucky University with minors in Sociology and African/African American studies. While earning my undergraduate degree, I completed an honors thesis about the negative attitudes of white Evangelicals toward immigrants and refugees, and how these attitudes are contradictory to their faith. Towards the end of my undergradauate and beginning of my graduate career, I became a Voter Empowerment Staff for a social justice organization called Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. I am currently employed as a Graduate Assistant with the Dept of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati while receiving my Masters degree in Public Administration/Social Justice. After graduating, I hope to continue a career in social justice through community-based organizations.
Francesca Gottardi
Ph.D. Student /J.D. Candidate, Political Science
Research Interests: International Law, European Union Law, American Law, International Human Rights, Indigenous Rights.
Adriana Lucia Hernandez Ortiz
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Adriana Lucia Hernández-Ortiz is a MPA SJ student at the University of Cincinnati. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the Universidad del Rosario, a Postbaccalaurate in Public Management from the Escuela Superior de Administración Pública, and a Master's degree in Government and Public Policy from the Universidad Externado de Colombia. She has previously worked in a wide range of topics as an advisor in the public sector, such as rural and urban socio-economic development, peace agreements, pensions, and labor. She has worked for the Agencia de Renovación del Territorio, Bogotá's City Council, Administradora Colombiana de Pensiones - Colpensiones and Colombia's Ministry of Labor. She also has experience as a Research Assistant at Fedesarrollo, a Think Tank based in Colombia.
Her research interests include: Social Justice, Rural and Urban Development, Education and Gender Studies.
Her research interests include: Social Justice, Rural and Urban Development, Education and Gender Studies.
Bekir Ilhan
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati. My research interests include the bargaining model of war, military strategy, innovation, and deterrence.
Sarah Imran
Ph.D. Student, Political Science
Sarah Imran is a second year Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. Her subfields are International Relations and Research Methods. She is also pursuing a doctoral concentration in Feminist Comparative International Politics.
Sarah’s research interests include gender justice, transnational feminist networks in the Global South, social movements, and women-led community organizing.
Sarah has a background in Economics and a Master’s degree in Community Development. She has worked on advocacy and lobbying campaigns to establish legislation related to violence against women in Pakistan and in the US, and has spearheaded programs geared towards skills training and economic independence of the survivors of gender-based violence.
Sarah is also a mission-driven artist and her art is grounded in gender, racial, and social justice (www.sarahzimran.com). She is also on the organizing team of the annual Aurat March (Women's March) in Pakistan and is a 2019-2022 Women Deliver Young Leader.
Sarah’s research interests include gender justice, transnational feminist networks in the Global South, social movements, and women-led community organizing.
Sarah has a background in Economics and a Master’s degree in Community Development. She has worked on advocacy and lobbying campaigns to establish legislation related to violence against women in Pakistan and in the US, and has spearheaded programs geared towards skills training and economic independence of the survivors of gender-based violence.
Sarah is also a mission-driven artist and her art is grounded in gender, racial, and social justice (www.sarahzimran.com). She is also on the organizing team of the annual Aurat March (Women's March) in Pakistan and is a 2019-2022 Women Deliver Young Leader.
Daniel Vincent Jones
Political Science
Daniel is currently a student in the Master's of Public Administration program. He received his BA in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Analysis and Policy from the University of Cincinnati in the Fall of 2020, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Previously, he has served as a Page in the Ohio Statehouse for the Senate Minority Caucus. While attached to the Caucus, Daniel interacted with constituents of the Senate Minority Leader on a regular basis, conducted research in support of Caucus staff and legislative action, and performed administrative duties around the office. He has also served as a Finance Fellow on U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's 2018 re-election campaign. He regularly interacted with constituents over the phone, solicited donations, invited donors to campaign events, and staffed said events on behalf of the campaign.
Igor Kovac
Ph.D. Candidate, 2018-2019 Pre-Doctoral Fellow at ISCS, Political Science
Crosley Tower
Igor Kovač research interests lie in International Security, International Relations Theory, Power, Geopolitics, Grand Strategy, International Political Economy, Cybersecurity, European Politics, Philosophy of Science, Mix-methods Research.
His Ph.D. thesis develops a new theoty of enduring hegemony - pervasive hegemony.
Igor works on several ongoing research projects:
- Economic power factor: primus inter pares?
- Geopolitics: Shangri-La of International Relations
- A Comparison of EU and NATO’s Approaches to Managing and Regulating Cyber Threats
- Sanctioning Iran: the case of a latent blowback for the European Union
- Economic intelligence: a comparative study
Mr. Kovač is active in different think tanks and NGOs, such as REFORMISS, and The Slovenian Paneuropean Movement. He cooperates with the Slovenian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and has delivered lectures on geopolitics on several academic institutions across Europe.
His Ph.D. thesis develops a new theoty of enduring hegemony - pervasive hegemony.
Igor works on several ongoing research projects:
- Economic power factor: primus inter pares?
- Geopolitics: Shangri-La of International Relations
- A Comparison of EU and NATO’s Approaches to Managing and Regulating Cyber Threats
- Sanctioning Iran: the case of a latent blowback for the European Union
- Economic intelligence: a comparative study
Mr. Kovač is active in different think tanks and NGOs, such as REFORMISS, and The Slovenian Paneuropean Movement. He cooperates with the Slovenian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and has delivered lectures on geopolitics on several academic institutions across Europe.
Jin kyung Lee
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Jinkyung is a ph.D. student in the department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati.
Jinkyung's research interests specifically concern the relationship between valuable resources in technology and large political systems. Based on her academic and work experiences, she have developed an interest in international data resource agreements and their effect on global relationship development. Especially, Jinkyung is pursuing that she will be able to enhance her interests in cybersecurity policies, conflicts between countries in science and technology, and the process of establishing related systems.
Jinkyung gained in-field work experience at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning and the Korea Information Society Development Institute. At these research institutions, she analyzed the influence of science and technology on the development of Korean governmental institutions, such as the postal system and the human resources development network.
Jinkyung's research interests specifically concern the relationship between valuable resources in technology and large political systems. Based on her academic and work experiences, she have developed an interest in international data resource agreements and their effect on global relationship development. Especially, Jinkyung is pursuing that she will be able to enhance her interests in cybersecurity policies, conflicts between countries in science and technology, and the process of establishing related systems.
Jinkyung gained in-field work experience at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning and the Korea Information Society Development Institute. At these research institutions, she analyzed the influence of science and technology on the development of Korean governmental institutions, such as the postal system and the human resources development network.
Jacqueline A Lewis
Political Science
Jonathan Liu
Ph.D. Student, Political Science
Jonathan Liu is a Ph.D. student in Political Science in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati. His subfields are International Relations and Comparative Politics. Jonathan’s research centers on the politics of China and Taiwan, particularly issues of security, foreign policy, nationalism, U.S.-China relations, and cross-Strait relations.
Born in Iowa and grew up in Taiwan, Jonathan received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his relocation to Cincinnati, Jonathan lived in Tianjin, China for six years, first receiving a M.A. in International Relations from Nankai University before working as a full-time lecturer at the Civil Aviation University of China.
Jonathan is a 2020 Albert C. Yates Fellowship recipient.
Born in Iowa and grew up in Taiwan, Jonathan received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his relocation to Cincinnati, Jonathan lived in Tianjin, China for six years, first receiving a M.A. in International Relations from Nankai University before working as a full-time lecturer at the Civil Aviation University of China.
Jonathan is a 2020 Albert C. Yates Fellowship recipient.
Lisbeth Lundstedt
Affiliate - Benefits, Political Science
University Hall
Jacqueline Ann Marschall
Public Info Officer, Political Science
Hoxworth Center (4-5)
Sayam Moktan
Political Science
My focus is in Comparative Politics and International Relations, with research interests in women and migration, development issues, gender and politics and global and social inequalities.
Alexandra Fe Nash
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Alexandra Nash (she/her) is a graduate student in the Master’s of Public Administration Social Justice program and the current Editorial Assistant for the University of Cincinnati Press. Her professional interests include policy evaluation and implementation with a focus on education and urban policy. Ms. Nash holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Her previous work experience as an educator in Columbus City Schools and a literacy adviser in Peace Corps Jamaica inspired her to study public policy to promote social justice in the education system.
MD WASIM NEWAZ
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Md. Newaz is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. Prior to entering into the doctoral program, with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics, he previously studied in the field of politics, environment, and development. His areas of interest mainly include political ecology, governance, institutional policy, and community development with a particular focus on South and East Asia. Newaz is a recipient of Asian Development Japan Scholarship Program – ADB JSP Award (2017-2019).
Yorkow Oppon-Acquah
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Yorkow is a Ph.D. Candidate at the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), UC. His subfields are Comparative Politics and Research Methodology. He is also pursuing a graduate certification in Public Opinion and Survey Research.
His research focuses on religion, politics, and social policies in sub-Saharan Africa and America. He's currently working on a research project that examines why some sub-Saharan countries have greater acceptance for Comprehensive Sexuality Education(CSE) programs than other sub-Saharan countries.
His research focuses on religion, politics, and social policies in sub-Saharan Africa and America. He's currently working on a research project that examines why some sub-Saharan countries have greater acceptance for Comprehensive Sexuality Education(CSE) programs than other sub-Saharan countries.
Aida Ramusovic-Witham
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Aida Ramusovic is an experienced and creative producer having worked mostly in broadcast news program and investigative journalism. Aida started as a political radio talk host in Montenegro in 2002. She continued her broadcast career as a reporter, anchor and senior news editor at national station TV Vijesti. She worked as producer on multiple investigative reporting projects with TV Vijesti, before becoming the first Media Ombudsman in Montenegro. Through her work with TV Vijesti, and later as director of non profit NOMEN, Aida trained and managed teams of political and investigative reporters. Aida is an avid yogi and cook. She holds a B.A in English literature from University of Montenegro, and MA in Media and communication from University in Florence, Italy. Currently, she is enrolled as Graduate student at University of Cincinnati.
Mallory Rock
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Mallory is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. Her subfields are American Politics and Comparative Politics, and she is pursuing a doctoral concentration in Feminist Comparative and International Politics. Mallory's research interests include women in politics, conservative women, white Christian nationalism, and white identity politics.
Yenni Rosana
Student Worker, Political Science
Yenni Rosana is a Ph.D. student in the School of Public and International Affairs, the University of Cincinnati with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics, with a certification in Feminist Comparative. Her involvement in the humanitarian field was started as a volunteer post-tsunami in 2004 for a humanitarian project in Aceh, Indonesia. From that time on, she continued working in the field where she found her passion and courage. Even when she worked as a permanent lecturer in a university, she still had widely involved as a community worker with some organizations that focus on women's and children's rights.
Mustafa Sagir
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Mustafa Sagir is a PhD Candidate at the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati. His concentration fields are International Relations and Research Methodology. Mustafa’s research interests include: International security with a particular focus on cyber strategy and policy, public opinion, and machine learning applications in social sciences. Mustafa's doctoral dissertation explores the causes of state strategic postures in the cyber domain.
Molly Anne Scruta
Program Manager, Political Science
BA MUNTZ
Professional Summary
Molly Scruta is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati, specializing in International Relations and Comparative Politics. She is pursuing a doctoral concentration in Feminist Comparative and International Politics.
Molly brings over 10 years of teaching experience to the program, and currently works in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UC Blue Ash College in addition to her studies, serving as Title IX liaison and providing support to Latinx/e/a/o and gender diverse students. Her academic background is in International Relations, and her research passions include mobility justice, critical race theory, social movements, and women’s rights in the Global South. She is keenly interested in the intersections of law and policy, international relations, identity and immigration, focusing on relationships and mobilities between Latin America and the US.
In collaboration with Rice University’s Baker Center for the United States and the Department of International Studies in the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, Molly is currently a collaborating on a transnational research project examining the relationship between the United States and Mexico through a feminist lens, focusing on the ways in which relations could plausibly be shaped in the next twenty years by policy decisions, historical development and global and regional trends.
Molly Scruta is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati, specializing in International Relations and Comparative Politics. She is pursuing a doctoral concentration in Feminist Comparative and International Politics.
Molly brings over 10 years of teaching experience to the program, and currently works in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UC Blue Ash College in addition to her studies, serving as Title IX liaison and providing support to Latinx/e/a/o and gender diverse students. Her academic background is in International Relations, and her research passions include mobility justice, critical race theory, social movements, and women’s rights in the Global South. She is keenly interested in the intersections of law and policy, international relations, identity and immigration, focusing on relationships and mobilities between Latin America and the US.
In collaboration with Rice University’s Baker Center for the United States and the Department of International Studies in the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, Molly is currently a collaborating on a transnational research project examining the relationship between the United States and Mexico through a feminist lens, focusing on the ways in which relations could plausibly be shaped in the next twenty years by policy decisions, historical development and global and regional trends.
Regina Shahi
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Regina Shahi is a Master of Arts student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati.
She obtained her Bachelors in Law from Nepal and is a licensed lawyer in Nepal. She has an experience working in business and employment law in Nepal and in the United States. She is interested in understanding the interrelation between law, politics and society, more specifically how legal changes impact public participation in democracies. Currently, Regina is working as a graduate research assistant with Dr. Laura Dudley Jenkins and Dr. Rina Verma Williams on an oral history project about women in political science.
She obtained her Bachelors in Law from Nepal and is a licensed lawyer in Nepal. She has an experience working in business and employment law in Nepal and in the United States. She is interested in understanding the interrelation between law, politics and society, more specifically how legal changes impact public participation in democracies. Currently, Regina is working as a graduate research assistant with Dr. Laura Dudley Jenkins and Dr. Rina Verma Williams on an oral history project about women in political science.
Yash Sharma
Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Yash Sharma is a second-year Ph.D. student in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati. His subfields are International Relations and Comparative Politics. He is also pursuing a doctoral concentration in Feminist Comparative International Politics.
Yash’s research interests are political mobilization, electoral politics, and ethnoreligious nationalism, focusing on South Asia. He is particularly interested in the mobilization activities of the Bhartiya Janata Party in India. He is currently working on a publication studying the mobilization of youth in vigilante groups and another project that looks at anti-conversion legislation (so-called 'love jihad' laws) in India. He has a fortchcoming publication examining the politics of protest from the lens of prefigurative politics.
Yash has a background in International Relations and Comparative Politics. During his MPhil, he worked on a thesis on right-wing political movements in Eastern Europe and the politics of memory, social communication, and identity politics. As part of his Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building, he defended his thesis titled “Islamification of Pakistan under Zia-ul-Haq.” He recently worked on a project studying the constitution-making process in India. He was responsible for archival research on media coverage of the Indian Constituent Assembly debates and helping digitize resources related to the constitution-making process in India.
Yash’s research interests are political mobilization, electoral politics, and ethnoreligious nationalism, focusing on South Asia. He is particularly interested in the mobilization activities of the Bhartiya Janata Party in India. He is currently working on a publication studying the mobilization of youth in vigilante groups and another project that looks at anti-conversion legislation (so-called 'love jihad' laws) in India. He has a fortchcoming publication examining the politics of protest from the lens of prefigurative politics.
Yash has a background in International Relations and Comparative Politics. During his MPhil, he worked on a thesis on right-wing political movements in Eastern Europe and the politics of memory, social communication, and identity politics. As part of his Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building, he defended his thesis titled “Islamification of Pakistan under Zia-ul-Haq.” He recently worked on a project studying the constitution-making process in India. He was responsible for archival research on media coverage of the Indian Constituent Assembly debates and helping digitize resources related to the constitution-making process in India.
Ryane Kristen Sickles
Clinical Research Manager, Political Science
Medical Sciences Building
Rickey Charles Terrell
Program Manager, Political Science
Teachers College
Bilgen Turkay
Political Science
Bilgen Turkay is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. Her subfields are International Relations and Comparative Politics.
She previously completed an M.A. in Journalism at Ankara University. She has undergraduate degrees in International Relations and Public Relations and Advertising.
Her research interests include immigration, refugees, social media & technology and human rights.
She previously completed an M.A. in Journalism at Ankara University. She has undergraduate degrees in International Relations and Public Relations and Advertising.
Her research interests include immigration, refugees, social media & technology and human rights.
Jelena Vicic
Predoctoral Fellow, Political Science
Jelena Vićić is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati and a Predoctoral Fellow at the Ohio Cyber Range Institute. Her concentration fields are International Relations and Methodology. Broadly, Jelena’s research explores the interaction of technology and international conflict with focus on competition in and through cyberspace. Jelena's doctoral dissertation examines the fundamental dynamics behind why cyberspace has become an unstable environment of competition and potential conflict, and what that means for international and national policy. In her work, Jelena employs a mix of war games and experimental methodology to build simulation-based experiments, for the study of operational escalation dynamics in cyberspace.
Jelena’s research interests include: international relations, cybersecurity, and EU politics.
Jelena’s research interests include: international relations, cybersecurity, and EU politics.
Stuart D. Warren
Ph.D., Student, Graduate Assistant, Political Science
Stuart D. Warren is a Ph.D. student with a focus on American politics, religion & politics, and research methods. He is a former Special Assistant to the Kentucky Secretary of State, has served on numerous political campaigns, and studied in London for a brief time.
Joey Kristin Williams
Political Science
Strong and diverse background in social justice, community/civic engagement, and leadership.
Leadership experiences include servings as Vice President of the University of Cincinnati chapter of Amnesty International in 2012/2013 (as well as Treasurer of the Skydiving Club 2012/2013), acting as Intern Lead and providing volunteer coordination on a local congressional campaign in 2014, and in my current role at the Cincinnati Public Library (started 2016) which allows me coordinate community and civic participation events.
Demonstrated committment to the greater Cincinnati community through approximately 2000 hours of voluntary service with the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati, Veteran Affairs of Cincinnati, and Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, and various local community service projects.
Leadership experiences include servings as Vice President of the University of Cincinnati chapter of Amnesty International in 2012/2013 (as well as Treasurer of the Skydiving Club 2012/2013), acting as Intern Lead and providing volunteer coordination on a local congressional campaign in 2014, and in my current role at the Cincinnati Public Library (started 2016) which allows me coordinate community and civic participation events.
Demonstrated committment to the greater Cincinnati community through approximately 2000 hours of voluntary service with the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati, Veteran Affairs of Cincinnati, and Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, and various local community service projects.
Justin S Wolterman
Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, Political Science
Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science