People

FACULTY - TENURED & TENURE TRACK

Natasha Altema-McNeely
Natasha Altema-McNeely
Associate Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 215
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of lowa, 2013
SpecializationsU.S. Government & Politics (Race & Ethnicity, Political Institutions, Political Behavior, Voting, Campaigns & Elections)
Phone:
956-665-5045
Carla Angulo-Pasel
Carla Angulo-Pasel
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 219
Education: Ph.D., Global Governance, Wilfrid Laurier University (Balsillie School of International Affairs), Canada, 2018
Specializations: World Politics (Latin American Politics, Border Studies & International Migration, U.S.-Mexico Border Relations); Political Theory (Gender & Feminist Theory)
Phone:
956-665-8059
Clyde Barrow
Clyde Barrow
Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 216
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of California - Los Angeles, 1984
Specializations: Public Policy (Gambling Policy, Higher Education Policy, Policy Formation); Political Economy (Theories of Political Economy, Economic Impact Analysis, Industry Analysis); Political Theory (Theories of the State, American Political Thought)
Website: https://utrgv.academia.edu/ClydeWBarrow
Phone:
956-665-3393
Alexandre Couture Gagnon
Alexandre Couture Gagnon
Associate Professor / Brownsville, BMAIN 2.200D
Education: Ph.D., Public Policy, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 2013
Specializations: World Politics (Minority Nations); Public Policy (Linguistic Policy, Comparative Public Policy)
Phone:
956-882-8259
Terence (Terry) Michael Garrett
Terence (Terry) Michael Garrett
Professor / Brownsville, BMAIN 2.200
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Oklahoma, 1997
Specializations: World Politics (International Relations, Comparative Politics, Globalization, U.S.-Mexico Border Issues, Political Violence and Terrorism); Public Policy (Public Policy Analysis, Homeland Security Policy and Management, Immigration Policy, and U.S. National Security)
Phone:
956-882-8825
Sylvia Gonzalez-Gorman
Sylvia Gonzalez-Gorman
Associate Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 214
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Texas Tech University, 2014
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Latino/a Politics, State & Local Government); Public Policy (Immigration, Transborder Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, Urban & Local Government Management)
Phone:
956-665-3239
Mark Kaswan
Mark Kaswan
Professor / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.214
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of California - Los Angeles, 2010
Specializations: Political Theory (Democratic Theory, History of Political Thought, History of Economic Thought, Critical Political Economy, Happiness/Utilitarianism, Cooperative Movement, Economic & Community Development)
Website: https://utrgv.academia.edu/MarkKaswan
Phone:
956-882-8877
Michelle Keck
Michelle Keck
Associate Professor & Associate Chair / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.216
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Texas Tech University, 2010
Specializations: World Politics (U.S. Foreign Policy, Non-Governmental Organizations, International Organizations, Civil Wars); Public Policy (US-Mexico Border Issues)
Phone:
956-882-6517
Dongkyu Kim
Dongkyu Kim
Associate Professor & Interim Chair / Edinburg, ELABN 208A
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Iowa, 2015
Specializations:World Politics (International/Comparative Political Economy, Theories of Welfare States, Theories of Foreign Direct Investment & Trade, Quantitative Methods)
Website: http://www.dongkyukim.com
Phone:
956-665-3679
Mi-son Kim
Mi-son Kim
Associate Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 213
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Iowa, 2015
SpecializationsWorld Politics (East Asian Politics, Korean Politics, Political Party & Electoral Systems, Campaigns & Elections, Democracy & Political Development); U.S. Government & Politics (U.S. Party Politics, Congress/Legislative Politics, Campaigns & Elections, State Politics)
Phone:
956-665-3808
Jake Lin
Jake Lin
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 222
Education: Ph.D., International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 2016
SpecializationsWorld Politics (International Relations in East Asia, Politics in China Vietnam & Oceania, China-US Rivalry); Political Economy (Labor & Social Policy, Capitalism & Global Supply Chains); Political Theory (Critical IR Theories, Critical Queer Politics)
Phone:
956-665-8097
Richard T. Longoria
Richard T. Longoria
Associate Professor / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.219
Education: Ph.D., Government and Politics, The University of Maryland, 2006
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Celebrity Politics, Public Opinion, Political Institutions); Public Policy (Normative Policy Analysis, U.S. Education Policy)
Phone:
956-882-6511
James Parisot
James Parisot
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 200H
Education: Ph.D., Sociology, Binghamton University, 2016
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (History of American Capitalism); World Politics (Globalization, Emerging Powers)
Phone:
956-665-8993
Jokubas Salyga
Jokubas Salyga
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 218
Education: Ph.D., International Relations, University of Nottingham, UK, 2020
Specializations: Political Economy (Critical Political Economy, Theories of Political Economy); World Politics (East-Central Europe, European Integration, Labor and Social Movements, Migration Studies)
Phone:
956-665-8064
Andrew H. Smith
Andrew H. Smith
Assistant Professor & Pre-Law Advisor for Edinburg / Edinburg, ELABN 204
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, 2018
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Judicial Politics, Public Law, Political Behavior, Judicial Elections)
Phone:
956-665-8854

FACULTY - LECTURERS

Mikhail Beznosov
Mikhail Beznosov
Lecturer I / Edinburg, ELABN 230 A
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Arizona, 2007
Specializations: World Politics (International Relations, Geopolitics, Comparative Politics, Post-Soviet Politics, Energy Politics, Energy Security)
Phone:
956-665-3344
Hafthor Erlingsson
Hafthor Erlingsson
Lecturer I / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.217
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2019
Specialization: World Politics (Transnational Political Practices, External Voting, Migration Studies, Determinants of Foreign Direct Investments)
Phone:
956-882-7839
William A. Gordon
William A. Gordon
Lecturer III & Pre-Law Advisor for Brownsville / Edinburg, ELABN 226
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, The New School for Social Research, 2009
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (State & Local Institutions of Government, Public Law, Legal Analysis, U.S. Minor Political Parties); World Politics (Forms of Government, Electoral Systems, Comparative Methods, Research Design)
Phone:
956-665-3322
Sarah V. Perez
Sarah V. Perez
Lecturer II / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.217
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Western Michigan University, 2017
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Racial & Ethnic Studies, Political Behavior, Campaigns & Elections, Statistics & Methodology); Political Theory (Ancient Theory, American Political Thought & Culture, Democratic Theory)
Phone:
956-882-7426
Ruth Ann Ragland
Ruth Ann Ragland
Senior Lecturer / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.222
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, The University of North Texas, 1995
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Media & Politics, State & Local Government, Political Behavior)
Phone:
956-882-4323
Bryant William Sculos
Bryant William Sculos
Lecturer II / Edinburg, ELABN 220
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Florida International University (Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs), 2017
Specializations: Political Theory (Modern & Contemporary Political Theory, Critical Theory, International Political Theory, Politics of Culture, Critical/Radical Pedagogy); World Politics (International Relations Theory, Global Ethics, Critical Security Studies, Climate-changed Politics, Social/Political Movements); Political Economy & Public Policy (Postcapitalism)
Websitehttps://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=8YX-bF0AAAAJ
Phone:
956-665-8766
Michael Todd Smith
Michael Todd Smith
Lecturer II / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.217
Education: Ph.D., Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware, 2019
Specializations: World Politics (International Migration, Global Governance, International Organizations)
Phone:
956-882-7842
Robert W. Velez
Robert W. Velez
Lecturer II / Edinburg, ELABN 212
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Southern Illinois University, 2017
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics
(Religion & Politics, Media & Politics, Social / Political Movements)
Phone:
956-665-3347

EMERITUS FACULTY

Sonia Alianak
Sonia Alianak
Professor Emeritus
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, The University of Texas at Austin, 1987
Specializations: World Politics (International Relations, International Organizations, Revolution and Reform, Globalization and Identity Politics, Middle East Politics)
Gary Joe Mounce
Gary Joe Mounce
Associate Professor Emeritus
Education: Ph.D., Political Science, The University of Texas at Austin, 1977
Specializations: U.S. Government & PoliticsWorld Politics (Mexico & Latin America)
Jerry Polinard
Jerry Polinard
Professor Emeritus
Education: Ph.D., Government, University of Arizona, 1970
Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Public Law, Latino Political Behavior, Films & Politics)

STAFF

Dora Sallie Maldonado
Dora Sallie Maldonado
Administrative Assistant II / Edinburg, ELABN 208
Phone:
956-665-3341
Fax: 956-665-2805
Marcela Escalante
Marcela Escalante
Administrative Assistant I / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.218
Phone:
956-882-8890