Graduate Students (A-L)
Joseph Ahorro
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Canadian and Comparative Politics
I am originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I also completed my BA and MA in Political Studies at the University of Manitoba. I began my PhD studies in the fall of 2006, with an interest in the state of Canadian democracy. My dissertation is entitled, "Revitalizing Political Parties as Agents of Democratization," which will contribute to the larger "democratic deficit" literature.
Outside of my studies and research, I enjoy traveling the world, encountering cross-cultural experiences, and meeting new people. It is only when we get out of our comfort zone, can we truly grow; and this can be achieved through extensive traveling or through new challenges by volunteering in the community.
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Monty Bal
Program: Ph.D.
Areas of Study: International Political Economy and Comparative Politics
I was born in India, but arrived in Edmonton by way of New York, where I spent the majority of my life, Boston, where I completed by BSc in Business Administration at Boston University, and lastly England, where I completed my MA in European Politics at the University of Surrey, where my thesis sought to link British and German foreign policy in Central Asia in the 1990's to varying degrees of energy dependence.
My future research will focus on governmental action in Iceland and Lebanon leading up to the current economic crisis, and the resulting, and distinctly different effects of the crisis in these countries. I will compare and contrast decision making within the two countries, the role of domestic culture and institutional capacity in formulating risk calculations and concepts of stability in the domestic financial/banking industries, as well as their relation to global financial norms. Secondly, I will address the role of the financial "expert" class in advancing global financial norms, best practices and methodologies within these two countries. I hope this research will allow us better to understand how homo/heterogeneity in policy and processes in global financial markets, affects systemic stability.
Outside of geeking it up, I love indie music, Wes Anderson/Coen brothers movies, ultimate frisbee and I'm a die hard New York Rangers fan. I also tend to love all things British, particularly British comedy shows.
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Yu Bao
Program: Ph.D
Areas of Study: Comparative Politics and International Relations
I entered the Ph.D program of political science at the University of Alberta in 2009 My research focus will be “Global Governance by Policy Transfer: International Organizations and Administrative Reform in China”.
I have been working for the China National School of Administration for eight years. I was involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of senior civil servants training programs. I also worked for the first China-EU Program on Public Administration as a project officer. I received my MA degree from the Department of Politics at the University of York (UK) with a Chevening scholarship awarded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Contact me at: yb2@ualberta.ca
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Amee Barber
Slowly revealing my partisan political colors (orange) by working for a political group, i hope to prove to myself that change can be had within formal institutions. Over the years, i've consistently remained a feminist, whose thirst for knowledge and living an alternative life brought me to pursue a PhD. Recently i returned from a year of field research in Amsterdam, where i aimed to discover why there has been a dramatic shift in the approach that policy makers are taking towards the topic of prostitution and the character of the Dutch policy making process more generally. While I have maintained my focus on the rights of sex workers, i have also become increasingly interested in the relationship of local urban governance to morality politics as a result of this research. A sometimes lecturer and now a full time researcher for the NDP, i live to have my thoughts and patterns challenged and keep my life adventurous. I am keen on collaborative research work and am eager to participate in deliberative and artistic though processes and event. Other fields I have worked in and remain vested in are: the service industry; medicine; child care and immigration. Feel free to e-mail me at: amee@ualberta.ca.
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Sevan Beurki Beukian
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Comparative Politics and Political Theory
I began my PhD studies at the University of Alberta in 2007. I graduated with a BA (public administration) and a MA (political science) from the American University of Beirut, in Lebanon. My MA thesis is a study of the transition process in the post-Soviet region, exploring the specific cases of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the transition. I conducted field work (mostly participant observation) for my MA in Nagorno-Karabakh, and I had the opportunity to do an internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the (non-recognized) Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2006. During the spring of 2007, I lectured on Middle Eastern Politics and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, as a visiting scholar at the Ural State University (Russia). My native languages are Armenian and Arabic, and I am fluent in both French and English (written and spoken), and I am currently studying Russian. Hobbies: swimming, reading (currently exploring Russian literature), and travelling.
My dissertation explores the concept of identity politics, and examines the impact of identity and nationalism in the nation-building process of the post-Soviet states. I am particularly interested in the study of the Southern Caucasus region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and Russia. My academic interests include the theories of nationalism and ethnicity, nation/state-building in the post-Soviet region, the idea and concept of self-determination, and the status of minorities. On a different level, postcolonial studies have also captivated my academic curiosity, particularly the role of canonicity in the field and its relationship with knowledge and power.
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JD Crookshanks
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Canadian and Gender Politics
In my current studies, I look at Indigenous Politics in Canada, focussing on the areas of citizenship, representation, and governance. My MA is from l'Université d’Ottawa and my BA is from the University of Manitoba (St. John’s College). I was the President of the U of A’s Political Science Graduate Students’ Association President for over a year and I served three years as a councillor for the GSA. I'm very happy to now be focussing more on my own work! My dissertation looks at the effects of Canada's political-economic systems on urban Aboriginal governance and the realization of gendered ideas of citizenship.
Hobbies: political activism (still trying to get proportional representation in Canada and I fight for the occasional cause on campus), biking when it’s warm out, getting my money’s worth at the campus gym, travel, watching movies, the theatre, and gaming.
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Alexa DeGagne
Program: PhD
Fields of Study: Gender and Politics and Comparative Politics
I am a second year student in the doctoral program, having completed my MA at U of A as well. My PhD research examines American social conservatism in relation to Queer social movements. Although the history of the relationship between American social conservative and gay and lesbian movements has received some attention, insufficient researched has been conducted on how American social conservative, and gay and lesbian movements rhetorically conceive, construct and demonize each other, specifically in relation to claims of citizenship. My doctoral dissertation attempts to fill this gap with particular focus on how each group’s understanding of their counter movement conditions their respective definitions, boundaries and criterion for the ideal citizen, and how these conceptions are mobilized through California’s 2008 constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, Proposition 8.
I was born and raised in Calgary, but I can safely say that I prefer living in Edmonton (gasp!) with its more queer friendly vibes, excellent music scene and socialist haven in the university area.
This year several Political Science colleagues and I have undertaken some exciting projects. The PSGSA is organizing a student-run journal that promises to offer graduate students a forum for their work and will take a unique approach to the study of Political Science. In addition, the PSGSA will be hosting its Second Annual Graduate Student Conference in January 2010. I am your VP Communications on the PSGSA, so feel free to contact me with announcements for the student body, issues for the PSGSA, concerns that need to be brought to the department, and any other business at adegagne@ualberta.ca
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Chris Dyck
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: International Relations and Comparative Politics.
I studied Business (H.B.Comm) as an undergrad at Laurentian University, and then did a MA in International Development Studies at Dalhousie University before coming to the University of Alberta in 2007.
My dissertation (tentatively) will be a political ethnography of state-society relations in Africa, but my interests are much broader, covering the development-security nexus; international security; political economy and anthropology perspectives on war; human security; qualitative research methodology (especially ethnography); conflict resolution; negotiation theory and IR theory. In terms of theory, I am interested in making links between the “micro” and the “macro” levels of analysis and find eclectic approaches useful in constructing a structured view of reality.
In the past, I have carried out fieldwork in northern Uganda, Sierra Leone and in northern Alberta in two aboriginal communities (Janvier and Fort Chipewyan). In 2005, I was part of the inaugural Canada Corps Internship program (now “Students for Development”) and interned with two civil society organizations in Sierra Leone.
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Brent Epperson
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Canadian Politics and Comparative Politics
Brent Epperson is a first-year Ph.D. student. He earned his BA (Hons.) in Political Science, French and Spanish literature in 2007, and his Master of Public Administration in 2009 from the University of Montana. In addition to general administration courses, his MPA research focused on the politics and administration of social welfare programs, child protection policy, and healthcare policy in comparative contexts. During his MPA, Brent also worked for one year as a human services specialist at the South Carolina Department of Social Services, where he had the opportunity to scrutinize social policy as both a researcher and practitioner.
His primary academic interest is the comparative politics of welfare states, including economic services, human services, and healthcare policies. He is currently researching healthcare reform in the United States and Canada. His additional academic interests in political science include North American and European integration, federalism, immigration, and transnational progressive social movements.
Brent enjoys international and independent cinema (particularly French), swimming, going to the gym, hiking, camping, just about any kind of travel, and any occasion to converse in Spanish, which he laments slowly forgetting in recent years. He and his wife Emilie have been married since April, 2004. They have two cats, Gaspard and Lily, whom they spoil unapologetically. They are happy to call Edmonton home, and enjoy everything that the city, beautiful river valley, and Western Canada have to offer!
Brent is serving as the Ph.D. representative of the PSGSA for the 2009-2010 academic year. Feel free to contact him (en français, si vous préférez) by e-mail at epperson@ualberta.ca
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Mikael Hellstrom
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Comparative and Canadian Politics
I specialize in the fields of Comparative and Canadian politics, with a particular interest in multiculturalism. My dissertation will compare the politics of ethnic relations and integration policies of Canada and Europe, specifically my native Sweden, where I did my BA and MA degrees (University of Stockholm). Before coming to Canada in 2005, I spent some years working for immigrant-driven NGOs, a practical experience that has inspired the above research. When not pursuing this work I indulge in the world of geekdom as much as possible.
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Kerri Holland
Program: Ph.D.
Fields of Study: Canadian Politics and Comparative Politics
Kerri has received academic degrees from Brandon University (B.A. Hon.) and the University of Manitoba (M.A.), as well as completed a legislative internship at the Manitoba Legislature. In 2007, Kerri entered the Ph.D. program at the University of Alberta and is currently working on her dissertation research. Having grown up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, Kerri’s research focuses largely on agricultural and environmental policy and she has a particular interest in the areas of intergovernmental affairs, interest group activity, and public administration. Kerri can be contacted at klhollan@ualberta.ca
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