Graduates of our doctoral program have taken tenure-track jobs at:
- Air War College
- Louisiana State University
- Central Washington University
- University of Connecticut
- Ohio Wesleyan University
- Eastern Washington University
- University of Rhode Island
- Hastings College
- Mississippi State University
- Naval War College
- Texas A&M International
Recent Graduates
Congratulations to our 2023 PhD graduates. We’re very proud of their dissertations!
Steffanie Chritz
Understanding policy changes in the US states: Vaccine exemptions during the 2019 Measles outbreak
Chase Riddle
How Genocide works: The Language, psychology and understanding behind mass atrocity
Orion Yoesle
“I’m a human being, dammit!” – Partisan media, sociopolitical identity, emotional arousal, and incivility-seeking behavior
Graduate Spotlight
Fernanda Buril ’18 PhD
Interests:
Political psychology, developing nations, international politics and relations.
Current Position:
Deputy Director, Center for Applied Research and Learning, International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Current Work:
Fernanda’s areas of expertise revolve around political transitions, electoral operations, conflict and security and electoral integrity. She co-authored “IFES’ Safeguarding Health and Elections” one of the first comprehensive guides on how to hold elections safely during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Political psychology, developing nations, international politics and relations.
Current Position:
Deputy Director, Center for Applied Research and Learning, International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Current Work:
Fernanda’s areas of expertise revolve around political transitions, electoral operations, conflict and security and electoral integrity. She co-authored “IFES’ Safeguarding Health and Elections” one of the first comprehensive guides on how to hold elections safely during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Sedef Topal
Interests:
civil conflict processes, rebel group behavior, and Middle East and African politics
Current position:
Assistant Professor, Ripon College
Current research:
Topal is currently writing about a theory of rebel group cooperation, examining the social, structural, and environmental factors that shape levels of integration between cooperating parties.
civil conflict processes, rebel group behavior, and Middle East and African politics
Current position:
Assistant Professor, Ripon College
Current research:
Topal is currently writing about a theory of rebel group cooperation, examining the social, structural, and environmental factors that shape levels of integration between cooperating parties.
Kathleen Searles ’11 PhD
Research Interests:
News media, campaign advertising, political behavior, and political psychology.
Current Position:
Associate Professor, Louisiana State University
Editorial board member, #WomenAlsoKnowStuff (a website designed to amplify the voice of women political scientists in public discourse)
Current Research:
Kathleen’s recent work focuses on using bio-metrics to better understand the effects of political television ads and direct mail.
News media, campaign advertising, political behavior, and political psychology.
Current Position:
Associate Professor, Louisiana State University
Editorial board member, #WomenAlsoKnowStuff (a website designed to amplify the voice of women political scientists in public discourse)
Current Research:
Kathleen’s recent work focuses on using bio-metrics to better understand the effects of political television ads and direct mail.