AMERICAN POLITICS

Amy Friesenhahn -- Vita, Website

• Ph.D. candidate (expected completion: May 2020)
• Areas of Interest: American Politics and Institutions; Women, Gender, and Politics; US Congress; Race and Ethnic Politics/Minority Political Behavior; Marginalized Groups; Feminist and Contemporary Political Theory
• Dissertation: "Does Gender Representation Matter? Gender, Descriptive and Substantive Representation, and Women-Friendly Districts"
• Committee: Regina Branton (co-chair), Elizabeth Oldmixon (co-chair), Bethany Blackstone, and Ashley English
• Email: amyfriesenhahn@my.unt.edu

COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Amanda White Bennett -- Vita

• Ph.D. candidate (expected completion: May 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, Lee Walker
• Email: amanda.white@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

Mustafa Kirisci

• Ph.D. (2019). Currently a visiting assistant professor at Saint Mary's College of California.
• Areas of Interest: Civil wars, terrorism, nonviolent movements, state repression
• Dissertation: Life Cycle of Terrorist Groups: When Terror Groups Emerge and Exit​
• Committee: T. David Mason (chair), Michael Greig, Jacqueline H.R. DeMeritt, Paul Hensel.
• Email: MustafaKirisci@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, Jacqueline DeMeritt.
• Email: MichaelWidmeier@my.unt.edu

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Melissa McKay -- Vita

• Ph.D. (2019). Currently instructor at University of North Texas and University of North Texas at Dallas.
• Areas of interest: International Relations, Transitional Justice, Human and Civil Rights, International Humanitarian Law
• Dissertation The Psychological Impact of Testifying Before an International Criminal Tribunal
• Committee: James Meernik (Chair), Kimi King, T. David Mason, Jacqueline DeMeritt
• Email: melissa.mckay@unt.edu

Roman Krastev

• Ph.D. (2019). Currently a lecturer at Prairie View A&M University.
• Areas of Interest: International Relations, American Foreign Policy, International Conflict, Russia and East European Politics
• Dissertation: Identity Claims and Leadership Survival
• Committee: Paul Hensel (chair), Marijke Breuning, John Ishiyama, and James Meernik.
• Email: RomanKrastev@my.unt.edu

Daniel Mintun -- Vita, Website

• Ph.D. candidate (expected completion: May 2020)
• 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

Jiong Yao -- Vita

• Ph.D. candidate (expected completion: May 2020)
• Areas of Interest: interstate behavior, international and comparative political economy, international conflict, foreign policy
• Dissertation: Bargaining Strategy and Border Dispute
• Committee: Andrew J. Enterline (chair), John Ishiyama, James Meernik, and Marijke Breuning.
• Email: Jiongyao@my.unt.edu

POLITICAL THEORY

Evan M. Lowe -- Website

• Ph.D. candidate.
• Areas of Interest: Classical political philosophy, modern political philosophy, politics of modern science, American political thought, American Presidency
• Dissertation: Political Judgment and Rule in Francis Bacon's New Atlantis
• Committee: Richard S. Ruderman (Chair), Steven P. Forde, Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha and Martin Yaffee (UNT Philosophy).
• Email: EvanLowe@my.unt.edu

Placement Record

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