Professional Experience

Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, Department of Political Science, 2023

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, Department of Political Science, 2015-2023

Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, Department of Political Science, 2009-2015

Assistant Professor, Valparaiso University, Department of Political Science, 2006-2009.

Visiting Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University, Department of Political Science, 2004-2006.

Education

Ph.D., University of Miami, Department of International Studies, June 2004

Fields: International Relations; International Economics

M.A., University of South Florida, Department of Political Science, May 1998

Fields: International Relations; Comparative Politics

B.A., Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Political Science, May 1994, Cum Laude

Minor: International Studies

Publications

Books

The Political Economy of Trade Finance: Export Credit Agencies, the Paris Club and the IMF. (Routledge, 2017).

Winner of the 2018 Fred Allen Womack and Frances Sue Zimmerman Womack Book Award, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona

In the Shadow of Russia: Reform in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. (Michigan State University Press, 2011).

Peer-Reviewed Articles

“After Karimov and Nazarbayev: change in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan?” Central Asian Survey 40(2): 179-196 (2021).

“The Lagarde Effect: Assessing Policy Change Under the First Female Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.” Global Society 35(2): 171-190 2021.

“Ad hoc Machinery in Debt Restructuring? Rethinking the Lock-in of Institutional Agreements.” International Politics 56(4): 639-657 (2019).

“OECD Export Credit Agencies: Supplementing Short-term Export Credit Insurance during the 2008 Financial Crisis.” The International Trade Journal 30(4): 295-318 (2016).

“Does the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative Realize its Goal of Poverty Alleviation? with Clair Apodaca, Journal of Poverty Alleviation and International Development 7(1): 1-38 (2016).

“Determinants of Developing Country Debt: the Revolving Door of Debt Rescheduling and Export Credits.” Third World Quarterly 38(8), 1423-1440 (2014).

“Factoring Gender into Economic Development: Changing the Policies of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.” Women’s Studies 38 (2), 213-237 (2009).

“Rethinking Poverty through the Eyes of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.” International Studies Review 10 (2), 179-202 (2008).

“Divergent paths, divergent outcomes: linking differences in economic reform to levels of U.S. foreign direct investment and business in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.” Central Asian Survey 26 (3), 355-372 (2007).

“Back to the USSR: Why the past does matter in explaining differences in the economic reform processes of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.” Central Asian Survey 24 (4), 391-404 (2005).

Chapters in Edited Volumes

“Beyond Coincidence: How Neoliberal Policy Initiatives in the IMF and World Bank Affected US Poverty Levels” in Stephen Haymes, Maria Vidal de Haymes and Reuben Miller (eds.) Routledge Handbook on Poverty in the United States. (Routledge, 2015).

“Global Companies, the Bretton Woods Institutions and Global Inequality” in John Mikler (ed.) Handbook of Global Companies. (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013).

“Higher Education in Africa: Development Challenges and Gender” in F. Lazin, N. Jayaram and M. Evans (eds.) Higher Education and Equality of Opportunity: Cross-National Perspectives. (Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, 2010; with Matt Evans.

“International Economic Institutions and Global Justice” In Robert Denemark et. al., eds. The International Studies Encyclopedia. (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).

“Following Through on Reforms: Comparing Market Liberalization in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan”, in Christoph H. Stefes and Amanda F. Wooden, eds., The Politics of Transition in Central Asia and the Caucasus (Routledge, 2009).

Other Publications

“Currency Convertibility and the Role of the U.S. Export-Import Bank in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.” In America, Russia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States: A New Generation Builds New Relationships, Conference Proceedings, April 2006.

“Political Interest Lurks Behind IMF Payments.” (February 10, 2005) The Moscow Times.

Manuscripts under Review

“IMF Arrangements, Paris Club Debt Rescheduling and Export Credits: What’s the Connection?”

Manuscripts in Progress

“The Lagarde Effect: Does it Matter if a Woman is Head of the IMF?”

“Assessing Poverty Spending Using the Performance Enhancement Mechanism”

Book Reviews

Review of Mark Rupert and M. Scott Solomon, Globalization and International Political Economy: The Politics of Alternative Futures. International Studies Review 9 (3), 474-477 (2007).

Review of Jagdish Bhagwati, In Defense of Globalization. Journal of International Relations and Development, 9 (4), 422-424 (2006).

Review of Miguel Glatzer and Dietrich Rueschemeyer (ed.), Globalization and the Future of the Welfare State. International Studies Review 8 (1), 116-119 (2006).

Grants and Funding

Fellowship, Penn State University, Institute for Arts and Humanities, State College, Pennsylvania, Fall 2016- Spring 2017.

Penn State Altoona, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Research Development Grant; $2,700, 2014.

Penn State Altoona, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Summer Grant Writing Workshop; $1,500, 2010.

Penn State Altoona, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Research Development Grant; $2,834, 2010.

Visiting Scholar, American Political Science Association’s Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs, Washington, D.C., 2003.

University of Miami, Department of International Studies, Doctoral Dissertation Research Award; $1,200, 2002.

University of Miami, Department of International Studies, Travel Grant for interviews at the International Monetary Fund; $300, 2001.

Invited Presentations

“Gendered Implications of Leadership.” Women in Leadership in Global Governance (WILIGG), Hosted by Margaret P. Karns, University of Massachusetts, Boston, March 4, 2021, Zoom presentation.

“The future prospects of economic reform and investment in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.” Center for European and Russian/Eurasian Studies, James Madison College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; October 12, 2006.

Conference Participation

“Christine Lagarde as ECB President: Shaking Things up on Gender Equity” Accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Nashville, TN, March 30-April 2, 2022.

“The Lagarde Effect: Does it Matter if a Woman is Head of the IMF?” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL April 5-8, 2018; Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 3-7, 2019.

Chair, “Environmental Governance” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL April 5-8, 2018.

“The IMF’s New Debt Limits Policy: A Better Approach to Debt Sustainability?” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Atlanta, GA March 15-19, 2016.

“The Impact of Debt Rescheduling on Human Rights.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Atlanta, GA March 15-19, 2016. Co-authored with Clair Apodaca.

Co-Discussant, “Political Business Cycles, policy credibility and transparency” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Atlanta, GA March 15-19, 2016.

“IMF Arrangements, Paris Club Debt Rescheduling and Export Credits: What’s the Connection?”

Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA February 18-21, 2015; Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL April 16-19, 2015.

“The Role of Trade Finance in IMF Agreements and Paris Club Debt Rescheduling” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Toronto, CA March 26-29, 2014.

Co-Discussant, “New Perspectives on Monetary Policy, Central Banks, and Financial Regulation” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Toronto, CA March 26-29, 2014.

Chair and Co-Discussant, “Money-Matters in a Globalized Economy” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Toronto, CA March 26-29, 2014.

Chair, “Crisis, Currencies, and Consequences – Instability and Policy Responses” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Toronto, CA March 26-29, 2014.

“The Role of Trade Finance in IMF Arrangements and Paris Club Debt Rescheduling” Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, August 2013. “A Closer Analysis of the Actors in Paris Club Debt Rescheduling,” International Studies Association, San Diego CA, April 3-6, 2013.

Discussant, “The Effects and Effectiveness of the World Trade Organization” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA April 3-6, 2013.

Chair, “The Domestic Politics of International Economic Policies” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA April 3-6, 2013.

“Changing Paradigms in International Development Assistance,” roundtable discussion, Mid-Atlantic Law and Society Association, Drexel University, Philadelphia PA, to be presented October 20, 2012 (invited). “The Role of Export-Credit Agencies in the 2008 Financial Crisis: Were They Used to Supplement Private Sector Finance and Sustain International Trade?” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Diego, CA, April 1-4, 2012. “Re-Examining the Impact of IMF and World Bank Supported Programs on Poverty.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Diego, CA, April 1-4, 2012. Co-authored with Clair Apodaca. “Is the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative Effective in Alleviating Poverty? A Ten Year Review.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Montreal, Canada, March 16-19, 2011. Co-authored with Clair Apodaca. “Putting the Country in the Driver’s Seat: Are the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers Alleviating Poverty?” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA., February 17-20, 2010. Co-authored with Clair Apodaca. Discussant, Chair; Panel on “The Political Economy of International Economic Organizations.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA., February 17-20, 2010. Discussant; Panel on “Russia, Islam and International Security: Security Dynamics and Narratives in Eurasia.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA., February 17-20, 2010. Discussant, Chair; Panel on “The IMF, the World Bank, and Regional Development Banks.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, New York, NY., February 15-18, 2009. “Factoring Gender into Economic Development: Changing the Policies of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA., March 26-29, 2008; Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL., April 3-6, 2008.

Discussant, Chair; Panel on “IGOs and their Effects.” Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL., April 3-6, 2008.

“How did they get here? Tracking the progress of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in their ability to assess poverty under the Poverty Reduction and Strategy Program.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL., April 12-15, 2007.

Discussant, Chair; Panel on “Regional Integration in Europe and Elsewhere.” Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL., April 12-15, 2007.

“Eliminating Trade Barriers: A Final Step Toward Poverty Alleviation in the Poorest Countries.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Chicago, IL., February 28-March 3, 2007.

Discussant; Panel on “China and Africa: Trade and Aid Towards Security and Development.” International Studies Association, Chicago, IL., February 28-March 3, 2007.

Chair; Panel on “Intellectuals, Politics, and Policy: Troubled Relationships?” International Studies Association, Chicago, IL., February 28-March 3, 2007.

“Currency Convertibility and the Role of the U.S. Export-Import Bank in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.” Oklahoma State University Russian Club Conference: America, Russia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States: A New Generation Builds New Relationships, Stillwater, OK., April 7-9, 2006.

“Defining Human Rights in Economic Terms: The Role of the IMF and World Bank in Analyzing the Effects of Globalization on Human Rights.” Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C., September 1-4, 2005.

“Economic Reform in Kazakhstan: The Role of Pre-Conditions in the Reform Process.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Portland, OR., February 25-March 1, 2003.

“Uzbekistan and the IMF: Does the Institution Influence the Implementation of Structural Reform?” Annual meeting of the Florida Political Science Association, Sarasota, FL., March 8, 2002.

“What Variables Determine IMF Loans? A Statistical Analysis of former Soviet Union Countries.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Chicago, IL., February 20-24, 2001.

“The IMF: A New Actor in Foreign Policy Decision Making.” Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Los Angeles, CA, March 14-18, 2000; Annual Meeting of the Florida Political Science Association, Miami, FL., April 7, 2000.

Media Appearances/Media Assistance

Interviewed on WTAJ about the decision of the UK to leave the EU, June 2016.

Interviewed on WTAJ about the impact of the 2009 G-20 Summit being held in Pittsburgh, PA, September 2009.

Interviewed for an article in The Northwest Indiana Times, “Local reaction mixed on Iraq Plan,” by Dan Hinkel; January 11, 2007, pp. A1, A9.

Interviewed for Community Radio 98.3 on Issues of International Economics; Valparaiso, Indiana, September 26, 2006.

Teaching Experience

Associate Professor, Penn State Altoona

International Relations

Globalization and Its Impacts

Controversies in International Relations

Global Political Economy

Gender and Politics

The Politics of Nonprofit Organizations

Assistant Professor, Valparaiso University, Department of Political Science and Graduate Program in International Commerce and Policy

International Relations

International Institutions

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Senior Seminar: Domestic and International Impacts of Globalization

Policy of International Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations (graduate)

International Political Economy (graduate)

The Politics of International Competitiveness (graduate)

Visiting Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University, Department of Political Science

American Foreign Policy

Civilization, Empire, and Change in World Politics

International Political Economy (graduate)

International Institutions

Guest Lecturer: The Soviet Union: History, Society and Culture, Fall 2005

Introduction to American Government

Introduction to Comparative Politics

International Political Economy (undergraduate)

Guest Lecturer: Introduction to Central Asian Studies, Fall 2004

The Politics of Globalization

Introduction to International Relations

Languages

Spanish (limited fluency), Russian (basic knowledge), Hebrew (reading ability)

Professional Memberships

Gerson Lehrman Group, Policy & Economics Council, June 2006 -2009

Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL), the honor society of graduate and professional school students; nominated and inducted in Fall 2000.

International Studies Association, 1999-

Service

Service to the Profession

Reviewer:

American Political Science Review

International Studies Quarterly

International Studies Review

International Political Science Review

Journal of Poverty

World Development

Journal of Development Studies

Global Environmental Politics

Westview Press

Ashgate Press

Democratization

Penn State Altoona Service

Program Coordinator, Political Science, Fall 2018-

Member of Faculty Senate, 2017-2018

Promotion and Tenure Committee, fall 2015

Search Committee, Business Management and Entrepreneurship, spring 2013

Search Committee, Political Science, fall 2009-spring 2010

Divisional Committee Representative for Political Science fall 2010-spring 2011

Valparaiso University Service

Faculty Adviser, Student Action Organization ‘Viva la Vote’, 2006

Oklahoma State University Service

Department of Political Science, Graduate Faculty, 2005-2006

School of International Studies, Program Committee, 2005-2006

Faculty Adviser, Amnesty International, 2004-2006.

Masters Theses Committee

Oklahoma State University (member of committee)

Cody Brown, ‘The Pattern of Islamist Activism in Egypt: Structural Correlations and Relative Deprivation’ successful defense, May 2006.

CV