Hire a UNT Ph.D.

AMERICAN POLITICS

Michelle Ramirez -- Vita

Ph.D. (2021). Currently a visiting assistant professor at UT Dallas.
Areas of Interest: American Politics; Racial and Ethnic Politics; Community-police Relations; Latino Politics; Political Behavior
Dissertation: "The Perils of Poor Community-Police Relations: Exploring the Link Between Race, Police Perceptions, and Public Trust in Government"
Committee: Valerie Martinez-Ebers (Chair), Tony E. Carey, Regina Branton, and Diego Esparza
Email: michelleramirez2@my.unt.edu

Amanda White Bennett -- Vita

Ph.D. (2020)
Areas of Interest: comparative politics, international political economy, organized crime and violent non-state actors, Latin American politics
Dissertation: "Risky Business: A Subnational Analysis of Organized Crime and Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico"
Committee: Glen Biglaiser (Chair), John Ishiyama, T. David Mason, and Lee Walker
Email: amanda.white@unt.edu

Post Basnet -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion 2022)
Areas of interest: comparative politics, ethnic politics, political parties, civil war, South and Southeast Asian politics.
Dissertation: "Ethnic Parties: Their Emergence, Survival, and Impact"
Committee: John Ishiyama (Chair), Jacqueline DeMeritt, Ko Maeda, and David Mason.
Email: PostBasnet@my.unt.edu

Yen-Hsin Chen -- Vita

Ph.D. (2017). Currently a visiting assistant professor at Trinity College.
Areas of Interest: Comparative politics, international relations, Chinese politics, protest
Dissertation: "Protests in China: Why and Which Chinese People Go to the Streets"
Committee: T. David Mason (co-Chair), Phil Paolino (co-Chair), Ko Maeda, and John Ishiyama.
Email: ychen1@trinity.edu

Taekbin Kim -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion 2022)
Areas of interest: comparative politics, authoritarian politics, elite purges, East Asian politics, and North Korea.
Dissertation: "Elite Management Strategies Under Dictatorships"
Committee: John Ishiyama (Chair), Jacqueline DeMeritt, Ko Maeda, and Marijke Breuning.
Email: taekbinkim@my.unt.edu

Ibrahim Kocaman -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion 2022)
Areas of interest: Comparative Politics, International Relations, civil-military relations, conflict management, human rights, and political economy
Dissertation: "Politics in Uniforms: Military Influence in Politics and State's Conflict Behavior"
Committee: John Ishiyama (Chair), Glen Biglaiser, Michael Greig, and Lee Walker.
Email: IbrahimKocaman@my.unt.edu

Gabriela Okundaye -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion 2022)
Areas of Interest: Comparative Politics; Immigration; Race and Ethnic Politics; Women and Politics; Political Violence and Conflict; Political Behavior.
Dissertation: "Pre-Migratory Experiences of Immigrants and the Political Effects of Suitcase Socialization"
Committee: John Ishiyama (Co-chair), Lee Walker (Co-chair), Valerie Martinez-Ebers, and Andrea Silva.
Email: GabrielaOkundaye@my.unt.edu

Michael Widmeier -- Vita, Website

Ph.D. (2020)
Areas of Interest: Comparative politics, international relations, civil war, rebel organization, causes and consequences of refugees, violence against civilians
Dissertation: "Where Do They Come From, and Where Do They Go? Rebel Group Origins and the Dynamics of Civil War"
Committee: Idean Salehyan (Chair), John Ishiyama, T. David Mason, and Jacqueline DeMeritt.
Email: MichaelWidmeier@my.unt.edu

Seyma Akyol -- Vita

Ph.D. (2021). Currently a visiting assistant professor at St. Olaf College.
Areas of Interest: International Relations, Conflict Management, Civil Conflict, Human Rights, International Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations.
Dissertation: "Collaboration among Conflict Management Practitioners and Human Rights Advocacy Groups"
Committee: Michael Greig (Chair), Marijke Breuning, John Ishiyama, and Jacqueline DeMeritt.
Email: SeymaAkyol@my.unt.edu

Bora Jeong -- Vita, Website

Ph.D. (2021). Currently a visiting assistant professor at Macalester College.
Areas of Interest: International Relations, Conflict Management, International Political Economy, Political Violence, and Civil Conflicts
Dissertation: "Foreign Direct Investment and Sustainable Peace during/after Civil Conflicts"
Committee: Michael Greig (Chair), Glen Biglaiser, John Ishiyama, and T. David Mason
Email: BoraJeong@my.unt.edu

Daniel Mintun -- Vita, Website

Ph.D. candidate (expected completion: 2021)
Areas of Interest: International Relations, Conflict Management, Foreign Policy, and Human Rights.
Dissertation: "Third Party Actor Interests and Conflict Management Approaches in Intrastate and Interstate Conflict"
Committee: J. Michael Greig (Chair), Jacqueline DeMeritt, Marijke Breuning, James Meernik, and John Ishiyama
Email: DanielMintun@my.unt.edu

Sebastian R. Graham

Ph.D. candidate (expected completion: 2021). Currently a visiting assistant professor at UT Dallas.
Areas of Interest: Classical Political Philosophy, Modern Political Philosophy, Politics and Literature, Political Psychology, Political Ambition, Leadership, Statesmanship, Rhetoric, Democracy, Populism.
Dissertation: "To Constrain or to Tame: Machiavelli and Aristotle on the issue of Popular Leadership and Demagoguery"
Committee: Richard Ruderman (chair), Steven Forde, Marijke Breuning, and Alexander Duff
Email: srg0125@unt.edu

Placement Director - Dr. Ko Maeda - Ko.Maeda@unt.edu