Graduate Student Programs Commemoration
University of Arizona Spring 2020
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Contents A Message from the School Director Professor Edella Schlager
Graduate Programs of Study
Doctor of Philosophy Program A Message from the Director of Graduate Studies Doctoral Degree Candidates Dissertation Projects
Masters of Public Administration & Public Policy Programs A Message from the Programs Director Master of Public Administration Candidates Master of Public Policy Candidates
Master of Arts: International Security Studies Program A Message from the Program Directors Master of Arts Candidates
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program A message from the School Director Dear Graduating Class of 2020,
Congratulations on behalf of the entire faculty and staff of the School of Government & Public Policy! Earning a graduate degree is no small accomplishment. You have invested so much of yourself – your time, effort, commitment, and heart to reach this point. We are proud of you. Graduate school is a special time. Classes are engaging and challenging, learning from your peers, and applying what you learn in class to your job, and vice versa. But, it is also the remarkable experiences that come from being part of something bigger. You make best friends for life; you gain confidence in yourself and what you are capable of doing and achieving. And, hopefully, you come to realize that you do make a difference, and will make a difference as you pursue your chosen career. You have grown and become an even better version of yourself.
Dr. Schlager
Graduation is a time for reflection, both on accomplishments and on future goals and dreams. What do you want to do or be in five years? Ten years? Reflecting on the School of Government & Public Policy, we have changed in important ways over the last decade since we were created. We have an awardwinning staff. Without their commitment and dedication to serving you and working with our faculty, none of this would be possible. We have grown, serving students and their demands for programs that provide entryways into meaningful and life changing careers. We now boast approximately 2,200 majors across 8-degree programs, and two of those programs are new – the MA in International Security Studies and the BA in Law. Our faculty are younger and more diverse, engaged in amazing research and outreach activities, involving peace commissions, environmental sustainability, trade policies, the resolution of armed conflict, identity and political behavior, among many other critical issues. I challenge you to think about and take action to make our world more peaceful, more sustainable, more just. Looking ahead, we are in the midst of creating “online campuses” so that no matter where a student resides, they can access any of our outstanding programs. We are creating an Arizona Policy Lab to support world class research opportunities for students while serving the citizens of Arizona, the US, and the world with evidence-based policy and political recommendations. Most importantly, we are planning to stay in touch with you, invite you back to campus for different events and celebrations, ask you to mentor our students through internships, and share your achievements with us. Thank you for allowing us to walk with you on this journey of discovery, learning, and growth. We wish you the very best.
Bear Down Wildcats!
Edella Schlager, Ph.D. School Director
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Graduate Programs of Study Doctor of Philosophy: Government & Public Policy Director of Graduate Studies: Chris Weber, Ph.D.
Master of Public Administration Master of Public Policy Programs Director: Craig R. Smith, Ph.D.
Master of Arts: International Security Studies Program Director: Paulette Kurzer, Ph.D. Program Associate Director: Kirssa Cline Ryckman, Ph.D.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Doctor of Philosophy Program Director of Graduate Studies: Chris Weber, Ph.D.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
A message from the Director of Graduate Studies Dear Parents and Graduates, As the Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Government & Public Policy, let me begin by saying this is a bittersweet moment. We are all deeply appreciative and thrilled these four students – Matthew Cobb, and Edna Liliana Gomez, Sangmi Jeon, Elizabeth Schmitt -have completed their PhD training. I’m so very sorry we are unable to hold what rightfully should be an in-person celebration. These four doctoral candidates have worked tirelessly to reach this point. Doctoral graduation – or what we call the “hooding ceremony” -- is an important moment in the life of a scholar. This moment represents entrance into a community of PhDs – true experts in their respective fields – whom constitute less than 2% of the U.S. population.
Dr. Weber
The Doctor of Philosophy is the highest attainable academic degree. Receiving a PhD is an enormous, cognitively taxing undertaking that requires hundreds of hours of coursework, thousands of research hours, and serving as both teaching assistant and instructor in undergraduate courses. While many PhD students take six, seven, or more years to complete their training, our students complete their training in no more than five years, on average. I believe the rigor involved in graduate training is largely misunderstood in our culture. For this reason, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our students’ coursework, which is highly technical. During the first two years of study, our PhD students take at least four courses on advanced statistics, probability, experimentation, survey methodology, advanced computation, and courses which focus on important issues facing our society and the world. After completing the third year in our program, which focuses on independent study research, these candidates are now experts on many of the issues that confront our world; issues that speak directly to our fragile humanity, such as human migration, conflict and war, civic engagement, collaborative governance, water management, climate change, gender disparities in politics, and the various ways our human psychology informs our politics.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
In the fourth and fifth years, the capstone of our doctoral program is the dissertation project. After completing what amounts to a rigorous, scientific book length manuscript, students participate in a “dissertation defense.” Imagine exhausting nearly all motivation, time, and energy for two years into a several hundred-page manuscript filled with complex statistical models and innovative research designs. It’s an exhausting exercise. Finally, imagine having to verbally defend your work during a several hour interrogation from a panel of experts. Everything is fair game, from obscure footnotes, to the social and political import of the student’s findings. I am thrilled to report these students have not only completed their coursework, they have also completed and defended their dissertations, all during a time of great uncertainty and chaos. It is a truly impressive accomplishment. Parents and friends, when you require an expert opinion about politics and policy, please don’t go far. These candidates possess far more knowledge and sophistication than most pundits we encounter in our news environments. They have been trained to objectively and scientifically understand politics, absent the perverse partisan and ideological led mistruths endemic in our culture. Cherish their gifts. Trust their intellect. They are the future of a scientific, evidence-based governance. Candidates, on behalf of the faculty and staff of SGPP, we are so proud of you. We hope you will continue to serve your society with the passion you have brought to your graduate studies. You are bright rays of hope during these dark times. Celebrate your accomplishments, and never give up on choosing the just, compassionate path in life. On behalf of all of us in SGPP, we wish you the best. Congratulations!
Chris Weber, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Studies
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Doctoral Degree Candidates * With Distinction
Fall 2019 Sangmi Jeong
Spring 2020 Matthew Ryan Cobb Edna Liliana Gomez Fernandez * Elizabeth JoAnn Schmitt
* With Distinction recognizes students who finish their degree requirements with a grade point average of 4.0.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Dissertation Projects
Sangmi Jeong Dissertation Title: “Negotiation in the Street: Protests, Regime Type, and International Bargaining Outcomes”
This dissertation investigates how popular protests influence international bargaining outcomes with a focus on the conditional effects of regime types. Sangmi’s primary argument is that protests in hybrid regimes are perceived most threatening, and consequently, are most effective in inducing concessions from a foreign counterpart. Dissertation Committee: Alex Braithwaite (Chair), Faten Ghosn, Jessica Maves Braithwaite, Paul Schuler, and Christopher K. Butler (University of New Mexico) Sangmi will join the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Creighton University as a Resident Assistant Professor for the 2020-2021 academic year.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Dissertation Projects
Matthew Ryan Cobb Dissertation Title: "Cities, Regions, and Rebels: The Impact of Urbanization on Armed Conflict in the Developing World"
This dissertation addresses recent discussions in both scholarly and policy-making circles about the risk of violence stemming from the rapid urbanization of countries in the Global South. Despite these concerns, urbanization is not linked to an increase in violence in developing countries. Communities in developing countries often stand a lower risk of experiencing conflict when they are located near major cities or when nearby cities are growing. Dissertation Committee: Alex Braithwaite (Chair), Jessica Maves Braithwaite, Jeffrey Kucik, Javier Osorio, and Paul Schuler Matthew will begin as an Assistant Professor at Coastal Carolina University this fall.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Dissertation Projects
Edna Liliana Gomez Fernandez Dissertation Title: “Three Essays on Urban Water Management and Innovative Outcomes” This dissertation explores how organizations collaborate in order to innovate in water management. This research finds what are the organizational traits that matter in those decisions, and how organizations leverage their individual resources through networks of collaboration. Dissertation committee: Adam Henry (Chair), Brint Milward, Gary Pivo, and Edgar Eugenio Ramírez de la Cruz Edna Liliana will continue to work on her research and plans to provide consulting services in public policy and policy evaluation.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Dissertation Projects Elizabeth JoAnn Schmitt Dissertation Title: "Evaluating Competitive Women: Use of Stereotypes in Static and Dynamic Evaluations of Elections Between Two Female Candidates" This dissertation examines how voters rely more heavily on gender stereotypes to evaluate elections between two women compared to elections between two men or a man and a woman. Elizabeth develops an innovative, empirically supported theory which she calls, “gender saturation theory” to explain how campaign dynamics vary according to the gender of who is running for office. Dissertation Committee: Barbara Norrander (Chair), Samara Klar, Lisa Sanchez Elizabeth will begin as an Assistant Professor of Political Science in the Social Sciences department at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the fall.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Masters of Public Administration & Public Policy Programs Programs Director: Craig R. Smith, Ph.D.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
A message from the Programs Director Congratulations MPA and MPP students!
Dr. Smith
For the past several years you have been part of a special community, one that is dedicated to improving public service. Students in our programs approach public service from different perspectives. Our MPA students focus on how we can better organize and administer public organizations, while at the same time enhancing the public service motivation emanating from within. Our MPP students seek to provide accurate and thorough analysis to our public leaders so they can make better and more impactful policy decisions. Both are crucial in the quest for good governance. At a time when our government institutions are being tested in unprecedented ways, we need competent and empathetic public servants now more than ever.
To this end, you have spent countless hours engaged in group projects, in-depth research, and experiential learning. During this time, you have not only gained valuable knowledge, you have developed relationships that will last a lifetime. Your fellow graduates share a commitment to improving public service. Nurture these relationships and learn from one another. Celebrate each other’s achievements in the coming years knowing that you experienced something special together. I know I speak for all of the MPA and MPP faculty when I say that we have high hopes for you. From day one, we have been impressed by your intellectual abilities and curiosity. But we have also been inspired by your dedication and passion for improving society and helping others. This is a powerful combination! Despite the countless hours pouring over abstract theories, our programs are ultimately designed to provide you with a set of practical tools to complement your passion and dedication. We are confident that you are well prepared to take on the challenges that await you. You now join the ranks of Wildcat MPA and MPP graduates. Members of this elite group are leaders in the halls of government across this country. They head local and international nonprofit organizations. They have gone on to illustrious careers in academia. Quite simply, they have made an impact! How will you make an impact? Whichever path you choose, we hope you look back on your time here fondly. Whether you are continuing a journey that began many years ago, or just embarking on a new one, we wish you the best of luck. Congratulations!
Craig R. Smith, Ph.D. MPA/MPP Programs Director
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program Master of Public Administration Candidates π Pi Alpha Alpha
Fall 2019 Narda Guadalupe Flores Michael Sands Newman Brennen O’Donnell Spring 2020 Indira Selene Arce π Alesia Nicole Ash * Mark Barnard * Amanda K. Bruno Andrea Caicedo *
* With Distinction
Caroline Nicole Dudas
Danielle Raines π *
Elizabeth Maureen Evers
Matthew Aarron Rash
Sophia Marie Ewinghill
Karla Smith *
Annie Mae Flores
Niya Samira Tawachi
Malika Ghafour
Micaela Varela
John Huerta III
Stephen Roger Williams III
Allyson Jenna Israel *
Robert John Wisler
Jonathan O. Jackson
Alex Michael Wyshyvanuk
Rosemarie Johnson Mackenzie Delane Letcher Jane Antoinette Mather *
Summer 2020 Mignone Noel Mujambere
Master of Public Policy Candidates π Pi Alpha Alpha
* With Distinction
Spring 2020 Nicklaus George Arnold π *
GesTine Finley
Maria Andrea Bojorquez
Monica Ann Pataki
Loren R. Breen π *
Alyson Robles-Hill *
Adam Christopher Ciampaglio *
Adrian Alejandro Wilcox
π Pi Alpha Alpha is a Global Honors Society, recognizing students in public administration and policy programs who finish their degree requirements with a grade point average of 3.7 or higher. Nominees decide on official induction to PAA. * With Distinction recognizes students who finish their degree requirements with a grade point average of 4.0.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Master of Arts: International Security Studies Program Program Director: Paulette Kurzer, Ph.D. Program Associate Director: Kirssa Cline Ryckman, Ph.D.
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
A message from the Program Directors Congratulations, International Security Studies graduates!
You are one of 42 outstanding students to graduate from the ISS master’s program over the past year. Moreover, you will be one of the more than 300 alumni who have graduated from our program since its founding ten years ago. You join a group of dedicated, hardworking, and engaged alumni, and we applaud your accomplishments and success. Back in 2010, we started as a certificate program. We had a modest cohort of 12 students who were able to choose between a total of four courses. Over time we have grown and expanded, becoming the robust and rigorous program that you know today. We were forerunners in this field, offering a quality master’s degree program in international security that is fully online. We currently have over 100 Dr. Kurzer active students and over 35 courses for our students to choose from, as they build and complement their areas of expertise. Perhaps most important of all, the reason we have succeeded is you. We thank you for making our program the quality academic experience that we know and love. The incredible expertise of our students shows in their thoughtful input into coursework and topics of learning. We hear time and again the one of the most beneficial parts of the ISS experience is learning from other students. Indeed, our alumni are positioned in many different lines of work, across the United States and across the globe. They are employed in federal agencies, serve as active duty military personnel, manage border security, work in local law enforcement, Dr. Cline Ryckman are employed within not-for-profit sector, and work within the private sector. We are proud to have our students positioned across the varied fields of international security, and we are confident that you will continue to bring your skills and expertise to the work you do. We salute you for your achievements in the ISS program and beyond. The educational journey can be long, but we hope it has been rewarding and fruitful. May you all commit to the journey ahead, whatever it may be, to move forward as we serve others in the aspiration of improving the world around us. We send you our warmest congratulations on your graduation, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Paulette Kurzer, Ph.D. Program Director
Kirssa Cline Ryckman, Ph.D. Program Associate Director
School of Government & Public Policy Spring 2020 — Graduate Program
Master of Arts Candidates * With Distinction
Fall 2019
Spring 2020
Summer 2020
Adonis Alier Aviles
Kyle Thomas Abraham
Steven Farrell
Kevin Alexander Clark *
Mason Evan Benda
Daniel Christian Jensen *
John Della-Giustina *
Samantha Leigh Galea
Brandon Lee Owens *
Jason Dominguez
James Philip Green *
Joseph Champaco Quitano
Alberto Vasquez Duarte, Jr.
Michael Green *
Andrew Matthew Sanchez
Genyrizzuel Flores
Kurt Allen Hogarth *
Brett Wood
Tyler Gill
Erica LeAnn Martinez
Michael Zequeira
Rodney James Holland
Amanda Elaine Maxwell
Chris King
Jason McCabe
Nickolas Kristol-Harper
Daniel Preston McLane
Jennifer Owen
Jorge Miguel Nolasco *
Andrew Romick
Cheri Lynn Norton
Samantha Anne Watson
Lillian Celeste Ochoa
Damien Gerard Wilson
Landon D. Prendergast * Briana Theresa Russo James Michael Staton * Alexa Shae Steenson * Lucas Thoma * Joseph Whang
* With Distinction recognizes students who finish their degree requirements with a grade point average of 4.0.
The School of Government & Public Policy commends your academic achievements, and wishes you the best in your future career and academic pursuits. Congratulations!