Since my first semester as an undergraduate in 1998, I knew I wanted to study political science in depth, and this never-ending process of schooling is now in year eight. Since my first class, I have been interested in international politics, studying both comparative politics and international relations. My own research has explored the normative issues of social and economic rights, as well as the motivations states have in these very important social policies. When I worked at the Center for the Study of Democracy at Northeastern University, we explored the implications of the democratic state in the welfare of its citizens. These issues are often overlooked in many contemporary studies, and I still follow this research program. In the future, I would love to teach these issues in my own classroom, a goal that is still too far off to consider realistic.
My wife, Amy, and I got married in 2004; she has a MA in English literature and blissfully ignores contemporary political issues that are so integral to my studies. In summer 2006, we got a dog from the Nebraska Humane Society, Gretchen, and we have finally settled in as a family in Lawrence. The question is now: how long will we live here? After moving around the country, a permanent home would be nice!
POLS 170 Introduction to International Politics