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Sultana Article on Democracy in Bangladesh, Anniversary of July Revolution Published on Counterpoint

“One year after the July Revolution, the memory of brave young lives lost continues to light the path toward a just, democratic, and united Bangladesh,” says Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment.

July 17, 2025

Robert Rubinstein Honored With 2025 Wasserstrom Prize for Graduate Teaching

The award recognizes a faculty member who has an important impact on students and a special interest in the graduate seminar.

July 14, 2025

See related: Awards & Honors

Four Maxwell Professors Named O’Hanley Faculty Scholars

Brian Brege, Sarah Hamersma, Yüksel Sezgin and Ying Shi will hold the title for three years. 

July 11, 2025

Taylor Talks to AP About CIA Report Criticizing Investigation of Russia’s Support for Trump in 2016

“This report doesn’t change any of the underlying evidence—in fact it doesn’t even address any of that evidence,” says Brian Taylor, director the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. Taylor suggests the report may have been intended to reinforce Trump’s claims that investigations into his ties to Russia are part of a Democratic hoax.

July 9, 2025

It's Not the Economy: The Effect of Framing Arguments on Attitudes Toward Refugees

Lamis Abdelaaty, Scott Blinder, Rebecca Hamlin

The article, co-authored by Lamis Abdelaaty, associate professor of political science, was published in International Migration Review.

July 8, 2025

Huber Weighs In on NY Gov. Hochul’s Plans to Build a Nuclear Power Plant in Spectrum News Article

“It's no secret that nuclear has been known for being very costly,” says Matt Huber, professor of geography and the environment. But he believes that if a project is to move forward, a public one like what New York State is proposing is the way to go.

July 7, 2025

Maxwell Professors Named Inaugural Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows

Mark Brockway, assistant teaching professor of political science, and Zach Huitink, associate teaching professor of public administration and international affairs, will work in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and the associate provost for academic programs to address teaching topics identified by the vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer.

July 7, 2025

The Disunited States: Threats of Secession in Red and Blue America and Why They Won't Work

Ryan Griffiths

Written by Professor of Political Science Ryan Griffiths, the book examines polarization and division in the United States and explores the possibility of American secession. 

June 24, 2025

Taylor Speaks With Forbes About Quinnipiac Poll Ratings on Trump’s Handling of Russia-Ukraine War

“Among the issues Quinnipiac asked about—immigration, trade, the economy, Israel-Gaza and universities—Trump’s numbers are the worst on Russia-Ukraine, and they also are the worst among Republicans,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science.

June 17, 2025

Thompson Quoted in Associated Press, NPR Articles on Pope Leo’s US Citizenship

Margaret Susan Thompson, professor of history and political science, says she doubts Leo will renounce his U.S. citizenship. “I think he wants to stress that he is the pope of the universal Catholic Church,” Thompson says, “and not an American holding that position.”

June 4, 2025

Buzard Discusses Her Research on Parental Involvement With The Atlantic

Research by Kristy Buzard, associate professor of economics, confirms the idea that people tend to assume mothers are the default parent, even when they explicitly ask not to be. Part of the reason, Buzard posits, is “this underlying belief that moms are more available and are going to be more responsive.”

May 29, 2025

Taylor Speaks With CBS News, El País, KTVU and Kyiv Post About Trump, Ukraine and Russia

“Putin isn’t interested in a ceasefire or an agreement, but rather in victory, understood as the subjugation of Ukraine,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science. “The Russian president has faced zero consequences for stalling Trump over the past four months, and from what Trump has said about the conversation, that hasn’t changed one bit.”

May 28, 2025

Sultana Article on Building Democracy in Bangladesh Published in LA Progressive

“In a region where democratic backsliding has often been normalized, Bangladesh is attempting a rare and ambitious path forward. But reforms – no matter how visionary – face real resistance from entrenched interests and are fraught with obstacles, both internal and external, that threaten to derail Bangladesh’s progress,” writes Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment.

May 27, 2025

Bhan Talks to Morning Wave in Bhusan and the WOZ About Rising Tensions Between India and Pakistan

“I don't think either the Indian or Pakistani governments actually want a war,” says Mona Bhan, Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies. “But neither of them wants to appear weak under any circumstances.”

May 23, 2025

Thompson Quoted in USA Today Articles on Pope Leo XIV’s Social Media Accounts, His First Mass

“Social media can be a minefield for divisive commentary, so I imagine he’ll use it sparingly, perhaps for simple, pastoral messages (and yes, delivered on the official pope account) like holiday greetings, but not for anything controversial,” says Margaret Susan Thompson, professor of history and political science.

May 20, 2025

Sultana Weighs In on the Suspension of the Indus River Waters Treaty in DW News Article

India's move to use the Indus Waters Treaty as geopolitical leverage “undermines the legal integrity of such treaties,” says Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment. ”These treaty violations and suspensions can have ripple-on deleterious (harmful) effects across and beyond the region for the examples they set,” she says.

May 19, 2025

Taylor Speaks With WWL Radio About US-Russia Relations

“There have been a variety of efforts since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 to try and remake the U.S.-Russia relationship...Obviously a lot has happened since then and it hasn't worked out that way and from my point of view, the thing that has broken the relationship most of all has been the Russian war against Ukraine which began in 2014,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science.

May 14, 2025

Thompson Quoted in Newsweek, New York Times Articles on Pope Francis

“We see that with Pope Francis when he talked about the environment and taking care of the planet. That's had a pretty profound influence, although he didn't tell people who to vote for or particular agenda items that nations ought to adopt,” says Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science.

April 28, 2025

See related: Religion

Taylor Discusses President Trump, Causes of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine With Forbes, USA Today

“Trump’s contention that Ukraine’s hope of joining NATO ‘caused the war to start’ is a claim that is often made, but one that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science. “Given that there was no serious prospect of Ukraine joining NATO between 2008 and 2022, it’s hard to see how Ukraine’s hope of joining NATO at some point in the future caused the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.”

April 28, 2025

Resettled Refugee Parent/ Young Adult Perspectives on Mental Health After the Onset of the Pandemic

Rachel Fabi, Christina D. Campagna, Nidaa Aljabarrin, Eloho Olojakpoke, Noora Alghazeer, Sana Alamarie, Warood Alamarie, Robert A. Rubinstein, Ron Saletsky, Andrea V. Shaw

“Resettled Refugee Parent and Young Adult Perspectives on Mental Health After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” co-authored by Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Robert Rubinstein, was published in Discover Mental Health.

April 23, 2025

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