Welcome!  I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Ohio State University.  I am currently completing my dissertation, entitled Lifting the Curse: Distribution and Power in Petro-States.  I plan to defend in June 2008.  Previous to this, I received an MA in political science, with a major in comparative politics and a minor in political economy, from Ohio State University, and a BA, with a double major in political science and Russian and a minor in international studies, from Truman State University.

I recently completed a Fulbright research fellowship in Moldova, where I explored issues of democratization and identity.  Previous to that, I spent four months as a special guest researcher at the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Planning.  My articles have been published in journals such as Foreign Policy Analysis, Europe-Asia Studies, and Problems of Post-Communism.  I am also a regular contributor to RFE/RL and Oxford Analytica.  (See my research page.)

My research interests include: democratization, authoritarian and leadership stability, natural resource politics, and identity formation.  I generally utilize multiple research methods in exploring these issues, including large-N statistical analysis, formal theory, and in-depth field research.

While at Ohio State University, I have taught courses in comparative politics, including "Economics and Governance," "Understanding Terrorism," and "Introduction to Comparative Politics."  I have also taught a course on research methods with the non-governmental organization CReDO.  (See my teaching page.)

In addition to my academic work, I also participate in triathlons and marathons.  Most recently, I finished the Athens Classic Marathon in Athens, Greece, and I will be participating the Columbus Marathon this October.