EDUCATION
Ph.D., Political Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2008
Fields of specialization: International Relations, Political Methodology, Comparative Politics
Dissertation: International Conflict and Leadership Tenure: Domestic Expectations and the Uses and Consequences of Force
Committee: David Leblang (chair), Steve Chan, Allan Stam, Hein Goemans
B.A., History, with high honors. University of Michigan, 2003
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University–Hawaii. 2017-present
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University–Hawaii. 2009-2017 (continuing faculty status)
Visiting Instructor, Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University, Provo. 2008-2009
Part-Time Instructor, Department of Political Science, University of Colorado. 2006-2008
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Program Lead, Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University–Hawaii. 2023-present
Chair, Faculty Advisory Committee, Brigham Young University–Hawaii. 2022-23 academic year
Faculty Advisory Committee, Brigham Young University–Hawaii. 2020-2023
AREAS OF TEACHING INTEREST
General political science, introduction to international relations, introduction to comparative politics, US politics, critical thinking, political writing and research, international organizations, international conflict, international development, world history, American history, Middle East history
COURSES TAUGHT
Introduction to Political Science (BYUH)
Critical Thinking (BYUH)
Introduction to International Relations (Colorado, BYU, BYUH)
Advanced International Relations Theory (BYU, BYUH)
Conflict Bargaining and Management (Colorado, BYU, BYUH)
War and Peace (Colorado, BYU, BYUH)
War and Culture (BYUH)
Civil and Ethnic Conflict (Colorado, BYU, BYUH)
The Politics and Economics of the Developing World (BYUH)
International Political Economics (BYUH)
Poverty and Conflict (BYUH)
International Organizations (BYUH)
International Relations and Current Events (BYUH)
International Relations and Domestic Politics (BYU)
Political Inquiry (BYUH)
Quantitative Political Analysis (BYUH)
Critical Inquiry and Analysis (BYUH)
SERVICE
Assessment Committee for Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University–Hawaii. 2018-present
Advisor for Department of Political Science internships. Winter 2024
Planning committee, and moderator at the Oceanic Perspectives on Human Dignity conference at BYUH. Winter 2024
Advisory Committee for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity initiative. 2023-present
Leader of student trip to Pune, India for G-20 meetings. Fall 2023
Gave presentation on food security at the G-20 Interfaith meetings in Pune, India. Fall 2023
Planning Committee for the BYUH Undergraduate Research Conference. Winter 2023
Speaker on successful research design at Faculty Research Boot Camp. Winter 2022
Guest on BYUH student podcast discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Winter 2022
Panel speaker on forum on effectiveness of foreign aid. Nov 2021
Taught the Center for Learning and Teaching Workshop on using simulations in the classroom. Nov 2021
Leader of BYUH student professional enrichment trip to Bangkok, Thailand, Spring 2019, Spring 2022
Leader of BYUH student trip to the United Nation Peace Summit for Emerging Leaders
in Bangkok, Thailand. Fall 2018, Winter 2020, Winter 2024
Leader of BYUH student trip to the United Nation Green Summit for Emerging Leaders
in Bangkok, Thailand. Winter 2023
Member of the BYUH Committee for the Homeless. 2016-2018
Speaker at university talk entitled, “North Korea, Nuclear War, and You” after the 2018 false missile alert in Hawaii
Advisor for students working on development-related non-governmental organizations in
BYUH’s Enactus program
Advisor for Everyone Is Ohana (non-governmental organization working with the homeless population of the Ko’olau region of Oahu)
Speaker at post-election university forum. 2017
Co-leader Washington D.C. Practicum. 2017
Planned and led BYU–Hawaii’s first semester abroad program (Thailand). Fall 2016
Advisor for the international development certificate program. 2015-present
Faculty advisor to the One Club. 2010-2011, 2016-2020
Speaker at a forum on the Arab Spring. 2010
Board Member for David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding. 2010-2016
Committee member for the Student Research Associateship grants. 2010-2016, 2018-2020
Faculty advisor for Pi Sigma Alpha (national political science honors society). 2009-2016
Speaker at a forum on the Arab-Israeli conflict. 2009
Advisor for the Kahuku High Scholl debate team on political issues
Advisor on sustainable farming practices in the Ko’olau region of Hawaii
Reviewer for American Political Science Review, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Politics
PUBLICATIONS
“International Conflict and Leadership Tenure,” (2011) in Coyne and Mathers (eds.) The
Handbook on the Political Economy of War, Northhampton, MA: Edward Elgar Press.
“The Indirect Effect of Ethnic Heterogeneity on the Likelihood of Civil War Onset” (2006),
Journal of Conflict Resolution, 50(4), 536-547.
SELECT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“The Impact of Refugee Populations on Leadership Tenure” (with Rahel Meyer). Midwest
Political Science Association (2024)
“Responding to Disaster: Natural Disasters, Leadership, and State Capacity.” Midwest
Political Science Association (2023)
“Where Has the Money Gone? Economic Institutions, Culture, and Growth” (with Megan
Russell). Midwest Political Science Association (2019)
“The Impact of Global Food Prices on Leadership Tenure” (with Morgan Smith), Midwest
Political Science Association (2019)
“Globalization, Economic Crises, and Secessionist Movements” (With Jenny Young), Midwest Political Science Association (2019)
“Like a Good Neighbor: External Shocks, Foreign Aid and leadership Tenure,” Midwest
Political Science Association (2012)
“A Rock and a Hard Place: Aid, UNGA Voting, and Leadership Tenure” Midwest Political
Science Association (2011)
“Civil Wars and the provision of Public Goods” (with Curtis Bell), Peace Science (2008)
“Great Expectations: Domestic Audience Expectations, Conflict Outcomes, and the Duration of Leadership Tenure,” Peace Science (2007)
“The Best Do Teach: Outstanding Graduate Teachers” University of Colorado Fall Teaching
Intensive (2007)
“It Takes Two: Strategic Selection and the Effect of International Conflict on leadership
Tenure,” American Political Science Association (2006)
“Financial Crises, Monetary Institutions and the Duration of Political Leadership” (with David Leblang), Midwest Political Science Association (2005)
“Slaying the Hydra: Government Response and the Durability of Terrorist Organizations” (with Jonathan Berohn and Erin Mewhinney), Midwest Political Science Association (2005)
“Who’s Your Daddy? Regime Type, Legitimacy, and the Duration of Leadership Tenure,”
Midwest Political Science Association (2005)
“When Do We Know about Civil War? Heteroskedasticity and Probits of Civil War Onset,”
Western political Science Association (2005)
MENTORED RESEARCH PROGRAM
Mentored Student Presentations at the Midwest Political Science Association’s Annual Conference
Kaitlyn Daniels, 2023, “The Ultimate Power Grab: How Dictators Use Ethnic Entrepreneurism to Seize Power and Gain Grassroots Support”
Cami Fairbanks, 2023, “The Impact of Social Capital on Recidivism: A Cross-National Study”
Carter Broschinsky, 2023, “Party vs. Impact: How Exposure to Policy Outcomes Impacts Policy Preferences”
Neva Short, 2023, “Tweeting Polarization: How Social Media Causes Political Polarization”
Sidney Shiffet, 2023, “Toxic Masculinity: The Impact on Perceptions of Race and Gender in
Politics”
Gracie Messier, 2023, “The More Your Know: How Exposure to Information Impacts Public
Opinion about Child Marriage in the US”
Killian Canto, 2022, “Viva la Comida: Impact of Governance on Food Security in Costa Rica
and Panama”
Brenda McCallum, 2022, “Where the Wind Blows: Political Economy of Industrial Wind
Turbines”
Amber Helfrich, 2022, “The Impact of Democracy on Women’s Tertiary Enrollment”
Talahiva Salakielu, 2019, “Retaining Diversity: Factors That Affect the Retention of International University Students in the U.S.”
Kevin Martins, 2019, “This Land Is Your Land? Racism and Attitudes Towards Immigration
Policy”
Michaella Stone, 2019, “To Report, or Not To Report: Sexual Assault Reporting and Prospect Theory”
Jacob Neptune, 2019, “Will the Real Patriots Please Stand Up? Politics, Patriotism, and Protests in the NFL”
Annika Soderborg, 2019, “Understanding the Problem: Does Education Reduce the Impact of Collective Action Problems?”
Megan Russell, 2018, “The Interaction of Democracy and Corruption on Growth in Developing Countries”
Morgan Smith, 2018, “Measuring and Reducing Bias against Transgender Individuals: Evidence from an Experiment”
Jenny Young, 2018, “Should I Stay or Should I Go? Resource Flows and Independence
Movements for Stateless Nations”
Jacqueline Tapia, 2018, “A Change in Culture: Acculturation in College Students in the United States”
Annika Soderborg, 2018, “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back? The Source of Democratization and Democratic Rollback”
Collin Farrar, 2018, “Who Wins with Air Traffic Control Privatization?”
Elana Nanney, 2017, “Did High School Really Matter? Group Membership and Political
Participation”
Aaron Weaver, 2017, “The Indecisive Voter: How Media Deters Millennials from Voting”
Rebecca Vigoren, 2017, “Reactionary Effect on Self-Identification as a ‘Feminist’”
Amber Woodland, 2017, “A Matter of Trust: How Lack of Faith in Government Institutions
Leads to Populism”
Sean Bolton, 2017, “Holy Politics Batman! How Superhero Preference affects Political Choice”
Charlotte Sudweeks, 2017, “The Economics of Human Trafficking”
Devin Masse, 2017, “The Road to War: The Interaction between Infrastructure Development and Primary Commodities in Civil Wars”
Tanner Greer, 2015, “A Systematic Theory of War and State Formation: Comparing State
Formation in Europe, China, and Japan”
Katherine Newkirk, 2014, “Minority Repression and Domestic Diversionary Incentives for
Conflict”
Kayden Peek, 2014, “Sleeping with the Enemy: UNGA Voting Affinity, Terrorism, and the
United States”
Joshua Casper, 2013, “Political Institutions and Voter Turnout”
Kyungeun Son, 2013, “Gender Perceptions and Support for Female Parliamentary Candidates”
Yeon Joon Sung, accepted for 2013, “While the Cat is Away: US Military Focus on the Middle East and the Rise in Terrorism in South and East Asia”
Emily Amadori-Alberoni, 2012, “The Effect of Social Media on Revolution”
Nicholas Kieren and Philip Graef, 2012, “Following the Butter: The Effect of Public Goods
Provision On Immigration to OECD Countries”
Austin Facer, 2012, “Girls Just Want to Be Smart: A Quantitative Study of Gender Educational Equality and Intrastate Conflict”
Kyle Poulter, 2012, “Pay to Play: US Domestic Politics, Foreign Aid, and Policies in Recipient
Countries”
Philip Catudal, 2011, “Sunshine, Lollipops and International Institutions: How International Institutions Influence Levels of Democracy”
Jayne Marostica, 2011, “Leaders and Conflict: How Age Affects the Choice to Go to War”
Takashi Ushijima, 2011, “The Hierarchy in East Asia: The Effect of the Hierarchical Society on International Relations”
Samantha Thee, 2011, “The Worth of Civil Society Institutions to Democratic Transitions”
HONORS AND AWARDS
Faculty Recognition Award, 2011, 2015, BYUH
Fall 2010 Laureate Speaker, 2010, College of Business, Computing and Government, BYUH
Graduate Part-Time Instructor Teaching Excellence Award, 2007, University of Colorado
CV Last Revised Winter 2023