Hire a UNT Ph.D.

AMERICAN POLITICS

J. Antonio Milinar -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion 2022).
Areas of Interest: American Politics; Racial and Ethnic Politics; Millennial and Post-Millennial Politics, Religion and Politics; Political Behavior
Dissertation: "Concerning Millennials: An investigation of Political Behavior Across Race, Religion, and Cohort"
Committee: Valerie Martinez-Ebers (Chair), Tony E. Carey, Lee Walker, and Brian Calfano
Email: jesusmolinar@my.unt.edu

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

Mahdi Amirisefat -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion early 2022)
Areas of Interest: Comparative Islamic-Western Political Thought, Political Corruption, Islamic Jurisprudence and Political Rule, Political Reformation in Islamic Thought, Middle East Politics, Iranian Intellectual History and the impacts of the West, Politics and Theology in Iran, New Technologies and Authoritarian Rule
Dissertation: "A Plague on the State? Political Corruption in Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun"
Committee: Richard Ruderman (chair), John Ishiyama, Marijke Breuning and Alexander Duff
Email: MohammadAmirisefat@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: akyol1@stolaf.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: bjeong@macalester.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

Mahdi Amirisefat -- Vita

Ph.D. Candidate (expected completion early 2022)
Areas of Interest: Comparative Islamic-Western Political Thought, Political Corruption, Islamic Jurisprudence and Political Rule, Political Reformation in Islamic Thought, Middle East Politics, Iranian Intellectual History and the impacts of the West, Politics and Theology in Iran, New Technologies and Authoritarian Rule
Dissertation: "A Plague on the State? Political Corruption in Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun"
Committee: Richard Ruderman (chair), John Ishiyama, Marijke Breuning and Alexander Duff
Email: MohammadAmirisefat@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