Jeanine Yutani is the Internship Coordinator for the Unruh Institute of Politics, and serves as Teaching Assistant for POSC 395, the Directed Political Internship course.

Jeanine is currently a PhD student in Politics and International Relations (POIR) at the University of Southern California (expected date of graduation May 2012).  Her research interests include:  East Asian politics and regionalism; US-China-Taiwan relations; internal and international migration issues (i.e. labor migration, marriage migration); culture and gender in International Relations; identity in International Relations; women and children in contemporary China and Japan; and international adoption.  In addition to working toward her PhD, she is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Gender studies.  Prior to joining USC’s POIR program, Jeanine completed a Master’s Degree in East Asian Area Studies, also at the University of Southern California, with a thesis titled “International Brides: Cross-Border Marriage Migration in China and Japan through a Feminist Lens.” 

In addition to her work in the PhD program, Jeanine serves as a co-leader for the Teaching Assistant Fellows program for USC’s Center for Excellence in Teaching.  She is also a member of the Community Based Learning Collaborative which encourages involvement of the academic community in the neighborhoods surrounding USC.  Outside of the academic environment, Jeanine also volunteers at a physical therapy studio, and with the Arthritis Foundation as a program coordinator and legislative advocate. 

Prior to graduate school, Jeanine worked in public relations for the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California.  Her former clients range from music, TV and film celebrities to television shows, movies, musical events and corporate clients.

Jeanine graduated from Minnesota State University-Moorhead with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/International Relations, a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications/Public Relations, and a Minor in East Asian Studies.