Grad Students
Hajar Amidian
Program: PhD
Field of Study: International Relations and Canadian Politics
Originally from Iran, where I did both my B.A and M.A at the University of Tehran,
I’m now a first year PhD student at the University of Alberta. I dedicated my M.A
thesis to the US oil politics in the Persian Gulf, during which I realized my tendency
toward the political economy of energy. However, I’m beginning to develop more
enthusiasm toward the region itself and the political, ideological forces within it.
In my spare time I enjoy drawing and spending time with friends and family; which I
don’t get to do much of either for the time being.
Nathan Andrews
Program: PhD
Fields of Study: International Relations & Comparative Politics
I was born and raised in Ghana until I came to Brock University, ON to pursue my master's degree in 2008. I started my PhD in September 2010. My current research is on "The Dialectics of Globalization, Corporate Social Responsibility & Poverty" where I examine the social and environmental impacts of mineral mining in Ghana, with specific focus on Canadian and US mining interests. I find the issue of mining foreign direct investments very key to international political economy and I hope my research results in some innovative outcomes and alternatives.
Aside from studying, I am the current president of the African Students Association, Vice president of the Political Science Graduate Students Association, Graduate Student at Large on both the UofA's General Faculties Council and Academic Planning Committee in addition to several other community outreach activities. I do have fun by dancing, singing, volleyball, playing soccer during summer, and just CHILLING with friends. If you love to do any of these activities, then I am your man!!!
Clifford Atleo, Jr.
Program: PhD
Fields of Study: Political Theory and Canadian Politics
My Indigenous names are Na'cha'uaht and Kam'ayaam. I am a descendant of Nuu-chah-nulth and Tsimshian peoples from the west coast of British Columbia. I completed my BA in political science in 2008, and my MA in Indigenous Governance in 2010, both at the University of Victoria. My MA thesis documented declining Indigenous ways of living in Nuu-chah-nulth communities and the pressures of neoliberal economic development. I began my PhD in 2010, and will focus my dissertation research on Indigenous political and economic alternatives in practice. My broad research interests include Indigenous languages, principles, and identities, the intersections between political theory and colonization/decolonization, and political economy, especially alternative, non-exploitative economic practices.
In my spare time, I've been known to read fiction, slice my golf balls out of bounds, jog in minus 35 degree Edmonton weather, and take Buckley to the dog park.
Simarjit (Monty) Bal
Program: Ph.D
Fields of Study: IPE and Comparative
I’m a third year Ph.D. student currently working on a proposal for my dissertation. My research seeks to address the role international financial organizations, specifically the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, have played in legitimating particular practices in international finance within the context of the global financial crisis. It seeks to understand how these "best practices" develop and how they are applied within national regulatory contexts, highlighting the filtering role that national regulatory bodies play, through the application of localized operative cultures and politics. My research overall seeks to destabilize the reified conceptions of "international finance" as a coherent agent by demonstrating differences and diversities that exist internally.
Outside of geeking it up, I'm a big fan of great music, Wes Anderson/Coen brothers movies, ultimate frisbee and I'm a die hard New York Rangers fan.
Amee Barber
Originally from Edmonton, I lived in five different cities before returning to pursue my PhD. I completed my BA and MA at Queen’s University in 2005 and moved to Edmonton shortly thereafter. This past year I worked for a provincial political party and now I work for the Government of Alberta where I am a Legislation and Policy analyst. Prior to the start of this career, I spent a year researching in Amsterdam, where I focused on the dramatic shift in the political approach to prostitution and the character of the Dutch policy making process more generally. While I maintain my focus on the rights of sex workers, I have become increasingly interested in the relationship of local urban governance to morality politics as a result of this research. I live to have my thoughts and patterns challenged and keep my life adventurous. I am a thrill seeker, but recently got a beautiful, demanding dog to temper my wild side and keep me grounded. I am keen on collaborative research and am eager to participate in deliberative and artistic processes and events. Feel free to e-mail me at: amee@ualberta.ca.
Jamie Cronin
Program: M.A. First Year
Field of Study: Gender and Politics
I completed my undergrad here at the U of A in 2011, and I am now working towards my M.A. in Gender and Politics. My M.A. research focuses on childcare policy in Canada, examining how it is informed by
particular political discourses and ideologies regarding women, the family, and the state. In my spare time I enjoy doing yoga and ballet, as well as spending time with my friends and family.
Brent Epperson
I am a third-year Ph.D. student in Canadian Politics and Comparative Politics. I earned my BA (Hons.) in Political Science, French and Spanish literature in 2007, and my Master of Public Administration (MPA) in 2009 from the University of Montana.
My dissertation research uses narrative policy analysis to determine how health care policy has evolved in the United States since the 1965 Medicare Act. My additional academic interests include the comparative politics of welfare states (health care, child welfare, and childcare policies), North American and European integration, federalism, immigration, social movement theory, and communitarian political theories.
In my free time, I enjoy independent and countercultural cinema (particularly French, American, and Latin American genres), swimming, going to the gym, hiking, camping, traveling, and any occasion to brush up on my Spanish. I am happy to call Edmonton home and enjoy everything that Western Canada has to offer!
I am serving as the GSA Vice-President Labour for the 2012-2013 academic year and previously served as an executive in the PSGSA. Feel free to contact me with questions about graduate student life in the department-community or at the University of Alberta (en français, si vous préférez) by e-mail at epperson@ualberta.ca
Darren Lee
Program: MA
Fields of Study: International Relations of East and Southeast Asia
I am a first year MA student in the Political Science department. My area of interest is regional stability in East and South East Asia. I have spent time in the Korean peninsula and have found interest in studying the relationship between North and South Korea and I would also like to examine China's role in keeping the Korean peninsula from erupting into military conflict.
When I am not studying, I try to travel as much as possible. I also enjoy playing and watching basketball, football, soccer, hockey and MMA. I love learning new things about nature and wildlife. I also enjoy spending time with my lovely wife of 6 years.
Nicole Marshall
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Political Theory and Canadian Politics
I entered the Ph.D. program in 2007, and am currently working towards completing my dissertation. My research addresses forced environmental
migration (people forced to move as a result of environmental events such as rising sea-levels, desertification, and/or extreme weather events) from a global justice theoretical perspective. While I find this topic entirely engaging and worthwhile, I also very much enjoy thinking about the evolution of the concept of death in political theory and how it has shaped and/or affected the development of political models over time.
In my spare time I enjoy backpacking (the kind with camping and no people), travel (the kind with hotels and lots of people), reading,attempting to learn new languages and about new customs, and last –
but surely not least – sharing good conversations with friends and family over good food and and a good glass of wine.
Kristjana Loptson
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Political Theory and Comparative Politics
I began my studies at the University of Alberta in the fall of 2011. My main area of interest is comparative social policy. For my doctoral research, I plan to study housing policies and their impacts on housing insecurity and homelessness. At the U of A I also work as a research assistant for Alberta Climate Dialogue, which is a project that sets up citizen deliberations to engage the public in discussions about climate change and to create forums to encourage the public to become active participants in political decision-making.
I completed my M.A. in Political Science at Carleton University, and my B.A. in Communication and Cultural Studies and Political Science at Concordia University.
In my spare time I enjoy playing soccer, doing outdoorsy type things and reading mystery novels.
Elim Ng
Program: phd
Fields of Study: Comparative Politics and International Relations
I started my degree in 2009, and my dissertation seeks to understand how locally negotiated identities of overseas Chinese communities interact with China’s efforts to engage overseas populations. I’m interested in the Chinese state’s revival of culture and tradition, nationalism, transnationalism and diaspora, cyberspace as political space, citizenship education, and relationships between culture and politics.
I completed my BA at UBC and my MA at Queen’s University. My final research project “Confucianism with Communist Characteristics” looks at how the state re-constructed China’s national identity in response to social and political unrest arising from the reform era.
I am Canadian but Hong Kong born. I grew up in Southeast Asia, traveling between Thailand and Malaysia. I enjoy words, public radio, and books with surprising topics. I also like cooking, British comedy, and ukulele music. If you would like to get in touch, please feel free to email me at elim1@ualberta.ca.
Isaac Odoom
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: International Relations and Comparative Politics
I am originally from Ghana where I also completed my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra in 2006. After which, I worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Political Science department, University of Ghana for a year.
I joined the PhD program at University of Alberta in 2009 after completing my MA in Political Science (international relations) from Brock University, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2009. My main research interests include Africa’s international relations; China-Africa development relations; Critical IR and Development Theory; and Regional integration in Africa. My current research explores the relationship between China’s development, its foreign policy and Africa’s political economy: focusing on the direct and indirect impact of the rise of China on other developing countries particularly those in West Africa.
Outside of my studies and research, I enjoy cooking (lol), playing soccer and doing community volunteering. I can be reached by email: iodoom@ualberta.ca.
Howie Phung
Program: MA
Fields of Study: International Relations
Since 2009 I have been studying part time while also juggling a full time job at the University of Alberta, first in an urban research centre and now with the External Relations department. Although my background is in communications, international relations has always been a passion. Originally from Vietnam, I have spent much of my adult life traveling and learning about Southeast Asia. My thesis is on international approaches to the on-going civil war in Myanmar.
In my spare time I enjoy traveling, photography and eating. A typical day abroad for me involves roaming the streets looking for a memorable street-side snack and that perfect image. At home I enjoy I enjoy film and serve on the board of the Global Visions Film Festival.
Janet Phillips
Program: Ph.D
Fields of Study: Political Theory and Gender and Politics
I entered the doctoral program in the Fall of 2010, after completing my MA (2010) and BA (2009) at the University of Western Ontario (London, Canada). My research interests include postmodern political thought, Foucault studies (particularly governmentality and the genealogical method), neoliberalism, public health policy, biopolitics, and social reproduction. My doctoral thesis will examine the creation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada to determine why, after mental illness has been relegated to the private sphere for so long, it is now being taken up as a national issue.
I was born in tropical St. John’s, Newfoundland, and later moved to London, Ontario. I moved to Edmonton in the Fall of 2010, and am very much enjoying Edmonton life. My hobbies include reading, going to the gym with my fellow grad students, rapping, and citing according to the Chicago Manual of Style. I currently serve as VP Social for the PSGSA.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions at jmp3@ualberta.ca.
Navid Pourmokhtari
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Comparative Politics, International Relations
I’m a first year Ph.D. student currently preparing for my comprehensive exams. My doctoral research project titled “Iran’s Green Movement: A Tug of War between a Religiously Repressive State and a Cosmopolitan Society” utilizes Iran’s green movement as a case study to explore the nature of Iran’s green movement; explicate its characteristics and dimensions; and trace its historical and socio-political origins as a case study of contention politics.
Angelica Quesada
Program: Master
Fields of Study: Comparative politics
I am originally from Bogota, Colombia where I completed a BA in Sociology. In 2006 I finished a BA double major in Anthropology and Political Science at University of Alberta. Currently I’m a second year master student working on the dynamics of conflict and negotiation between mining corporations, local communities, and the different levels of government. I am interested in exploring how different ontologies travel and appear throughout the conflict and how political and cultural contexts shape those ontologies in different countries. I was awarded the Jason Lang Scholarship for Academic Excellence in 2005, and the Profiling Alberta's Graduate Students Award in 2012.
Coming to Canada was a deep experience of re-learning myself as different. Every new place I visit encloses the mysteries of the new not only in others, but also within myself. I have learned to love backpacking, and volleyball, and every chance I have I go visit Colombia!
Chris W.J. Roberts
Program: Ph.D.
Field of Study: International Relations and Comparative Politics
After nearly 15 years in the private sector, mostly working on African related projects including a five-year stint as the Western Canada vice-president for the Canadian Council on Africa, I made the difficult transition back to grad school in 2007. I first pursued a Masters degree (MSS) at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, and then moved north to this department in 2009. My original degree is a BA in History and Political Science from the University of Victoria, followed by unfinished graduate work in Political Science at Simon Fraser University.
My general research interests are Canadian foreign and defence policy, international relations theory, African politics and political economy, China's resurgence in Africa, "smart" strategic studies, and the security-development-intervention nexus. Specifically, my dissertation addresses the different forms of intervention Canada has evolved in its relations with Africa since the independence era. While this includes military intervention, most recently illustrated by leadership of and participation in the UN sanctioned NATO mission in Libya, this work broadens intervention to include "routinized" international systemic and bilateral forms that Canada either championed or absorbed (A working title is currently: "The Persistence Salience of a Marginalized Continent: Canadian Intervention in Africa from Nkrumah to Gadhafi".) I can be reached atcwrobert@ualberta.ca
Lena Saleh
Program: MA
Fields of Study: Comparative and Gender Politics
After earning my BA (Hons.) from the U of A in 2011, I decided that I wasn’t done with political science just yet and stuck around to earn an MA too. I’m especially interested in identity politics and social movements in the Arab Middle East. My undergraduate honors paper, titled “Citadels of Imagination: The Past, Present and Future of Nationalism and Islamism in Egypt”, examined the influence of Arab Nationalism and Islamism in Egyptian politics since the 1950s and explored the recent pro-democracy and human rights movement that swept through the country in late 2011. More recently, however, I’ve begun to develop an interest in gender politics. My current research examines the construction of idealized Arab femininity embodied in hijab-wearing dolls and the commodification of Islam.
When I’m not lurking around the Tory Building, I enjoy spending my spare time with family and friends, watching classic films, and eating any type of baklava I can find. So, if anyone is interested in discussing which of Humphrey Bogart’s films was the best, or has news of an upcoming pastry free-for-all, I can be reached via email at lsaleh@ualberta.ca.
Andrés Torres-Scott
Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Political Theory and Canadian Politics
I'm in my second year Ph.D. working on a proposal for my dissertation, certainly about federal normative theories and possible comparing Latin American failed federations with the surviving successful ones in North and South America. My comprehensive papers were: "Liberalism Philosophical Foundations and Foucault's Critique" where I compare the classical foundations of liberalism with Foucault's governmentality and show they do not defer in their pragmatic implications. And "In Search of Lost Federalism", here I identify the peculiar characteristics of Canadian federalism and affirm these can explain the dynamics of the whole Canadian political system.
Outside my Ph.D. work I like to write fiction in Spanish and English and spending time with my two young sons.
Claudia Vergara
Program: MA
Fields of Study: International Relations
I am a second year M.A. student now facing the challenge of writing a thesis in a second language. I came all the way from Perú, South America, in order to gain graduate education and the conceptual tools useful to enter the International Relations realm with a critical stance. Although I have discovered that my passion is working on the field and my attention goes specially towards cooperation, multinational organizations and regional political bodies, I have also realized that only an informed committed work is that one that balance research and practice and the one that commits not with the discipline but with the people in the first place.
During my free time I enjoy good conversations beyond politics, meeting people and visiting new places it's a priority in my life. I also love to dance and to spread my culture through it as its happiest manifestation.