Nicholas Buccola (PhD 2007) has accepted an assistant professorship in the Department of Political Science at Linfield College. On another note, Nick is a newly-wed (less than a month now -- July 2009). Congratulations to you!!
James Lance Taylor (PhD 1999) is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of San Francisco. James was elected the 2009-2011 president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists.
Maya Sabatello (PhD 2006, LLB Hebrew University of Jersusalem) has published her book Children's Bioethics. She currently is an Adjunct Instructor at the Center for Global Affairs, New York University. She has published on the topic of disabilities and bioethics, and participated in the United Nations drafting of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Dr. Sabatello is a permanent Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representative to the United Nations. Congratulations Maya!
The Road to the White House - Gary Lee (BA 2007) now works for the 44th President as a White House liaison primarily to members of Congress and their staffs.
Congratulations to Jason McDaniel (PhD 2007)! Dr. McDaniel has accepted a tenure-track position in the Department of Political Science at San Francisco State University.
A new Trojan! We are happy to introduce the newest member of the Political Science Trojan family. Baby girl Ivy was born on 9:16 pm, April 19, 2009. She arrived a week early but was 7 lbs 2 ounces, and 21 and a half inches. Ivy is the daughter of Weixia Cher Chen (PhD 2008) and her husband Shawn. Ivy, welcome to our world! (Ivy at One Week - Ivy at 100 Days Old).
Jeanette Barbieri (PhD 2007) has accepted an assistant professorship in the Department of Political Science at Hollins University in Roanoke, Viriginia. Her research interests include political theories of culture and communication, identity politics, visual culture and contemporary China. Congratulations Jeanette!
Sharon Nazarian Baradaran (PhD, 1999) is the President of ". . .the Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation, with a branch in Israel named Ima Foundation. The primary goal of the foundation is to promote and support educational causes in various fields throughout the United States and Israel."
Jarrod Hayes (Ph.D. expected, fall 2009) has just accepted a tenure-track position at the University of Oklahoma, a joint position in the School of International and Area Studies and the Department of Political Science. Jarrod has an individually-authored article accepted for publication in the International Studies Quarterly. He also currently holds a USC College Final Year Fellowship. Jarrod is fully on track to defend his dissertation in the coming months and to take up his new position in August. (Spring 2009)
Frederick G. Gordon's (Ph.D., 2005) book, Freshwater Resources and Interstate Cooperation (SUNY Press, 2008) has been published. The book examines state cooperation over increasingly scarce water resources. Congratulations to Fred! (Spring 2009)
Funeral services are set for Court of Appeal Justice Thomas A. Harris (BA, 1951). He was appointed to the Fresno Municipal Court in 1985 by then-Governor Deukmejian -- filling a vacancy created by Presiding Justice James A. Ardaiz's elevation to the Fresno Superior Court -- and was elevated to the Superior Court two years later. In 1990, Harris was appointed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal to succeed Justice Marvin R. Baxter, who had been elevated to the Supreme Court by Governor Deukmejian. Justice Harris was also a USC football fan, and Ardaiz said, if you wanted to jerk his chain, just talk to him about when Fresno State beat USC. (Fall 2008)
John T.S. Keeler (BA 1972, MA 1975) is Dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh. Previously, he was professor of political science and chairman of the division of French and Italian studies at the University of Washington; Chairman of the European Union Studies Assn; and on the editorial boards of Comparative Political Studies, Comparative European Politics and French Politics. Professional honors include the American Political Science Association's Gabriel A. Almond Award and honors from three different French ministries. (Fall 2008)
Chien-peng (C.P.) Chung (Ph.D. 1999) is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. His teaching responsibilities at Lingnan University include courses on introduction to international politics, contemporary Asian-Pacific affairs, China's international relations, and international law. (Fall 2008)
Ann Gordon (Ph.D. 1999) is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ludie and David C. Henley Research Lab at Chapman University. She specializes in research methods, women and politics, political communication, voting behavior and public opinion. She is co-editor of Anticipating Madam President (Lynne Rienner, 2002), author of Playing Politics: An Active Learning Approach to American National Government (McGraw-Hill, 2004) and co-author of When Stereotypes Collide: Race, Gender, and Videostyle in Congressional Campaigns (Peter Lang, 2005). (Fall 2008)
David Shafie (Ph.D. 2002) is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Chapman University. His research and teaching interests include public policy, environmental politics, urban politics, and state politics. Dr. Shafie is co-author of Rethinking California: Politics and Policy in the Golden State (Prentice Hall, 2nd ed. forthcoming) and has published articles in American Behavioral Scientist and the Southeastern Political Review. His current research project, titled Regulatory Agenda-Setting and Environmental Risk, has received funding from the Morris K. Udall Foundation. (Spring 2008)
Congratulations to Hovann Simonian (Ph.D. candidate). His book titled The Hemshin: History, Society and Identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey was published by Routledge Taylor & Francis Group in December 2006. (Details.) (Spring 2008)
Yooil Bae (Ph.D. 2007) has accepted an assistant professorship in political science at the Singapore Management University beginning July 1, 2008. Congratulations Yooil! (Spring 2008)
Andrew and Michael Ritter (BA 2005), identical twins, have scads in common. They have developed and sell Lactagen, a nutritional supplement that counteracts lactose intolerance. Details. (Fall 2007)
Kirsten D. Levingston (BA, magna cum laude, 1987) is Director of Public Affairs for the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, which advocates for fair and effective administration of justice by preventing crime, ensuring public safety, and promoting social reintegration for those who come into conflict with the law. She formerly directed the Brennan Center's Criminal Justice Program. Kirsten served on President Bill Clinton's transition team in 1992 and in the U.S. Department of Justice as Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. She is admitted to practice law in California, the District of Columbia, and in the U.S. Supreme Court. (Fall 2007)
Charles T. Lee (Ph.D. 2006) has accepted an Assistant Professorship in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at Arizona State University. His appointment starts August 15, 2007. Professor Lee has been a Lecturer here in the Department for several semesters and we congratulate him on his new job.
Jason Whitehead (Ph.D. expected May 2007) successfully defended his dissertation ("A Government of Words: Judicial Decision Making and the Rule of Law") on Tuesday, March, 27; he will graduate in May 2007. Jason will start his new job as Assistant Professor of Political Science August 27 at California State University, Long Beach. He will also be the pre-law advisor there. Congratulations Jason!
Boris Ricks (Ph.D. 2003) is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He specializes in American politics, state and local politics, urban politics, race and representation, minority politics, environmental justice, and public administration. In 2005, Professor Ricks was selected to present his work on deracialization to the prestigious Oxford University Roundtable.
Matthew O'Gara (Ph.D. 2000, MA 1996) was selected the "2005 Professor of the Year for the District of Columbia." The prestigious achievment was bestowed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Professor O'Gara is an Associate Professorial Lecturer in the Elliot School of International Affairs at The George Washington University.
Judson Lance Jeffries (Ph.D. 1998) accepted a Full Professorship in the Department of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University. He is also Director of OSU's African American and African Studies Community Extension Center located in downtown Columbus. (The Ohio State University African American and African Studies Community Extension Center is the outreach component of the Department of African American and African Studies,) Prior to this appointment, he was Associate Professor of Political Science and Homeland Security Studies at Purdue University.
Linda Lopez (Ph.D. 1999, MA 1995) has accepted the position of Program Director for Cross-Directorate Activities, Division of Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation (June 2006). She was formerly Director, Education & Professional Programs, American Political Science Association. She also has a Trojan waiting in the wings; her daughter, Sophia at 4 months old.
Lori Cox Han (Ph.D. 1997) is professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Chapman College. She is the author of Governing From Center Stage: White House Communication Strategies During the Television Age of Politics, and Women and American Politics: The Challenges of Political Leadership. She is also co-editor of In the Public Domain: Presidents and the Challenge of Public Leadership, and The Presidency and the Challenge of Democracy. In addition, Dr. Han is currently serving as President of the Presidency Research Group, an organized section of the American Political Science Association devoted to the study of the presidency.