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Department of Political Science College of Liberal Arts

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Contact Us

Brownsville Department Email:
politicalsciencebro@utrgv.edu

Edinburg Department Email:
politicalscience@utrgv.edu

Brownsville Department Phone:
956-882-8890

Edinburg Department Phone:
956-665-8065

Dora Sallie Maldonado
Administrative Assistant II
Edinburg Campus, ELABN 208
Email: dora.maldonado@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-3341
Fax: 956-665-2805

Marcela Escalante
Administrative Assistant I
Brownsville Campus, BMSLC 3.218
Email: ela.escalante@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-882-8890

Quick Links

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People

Meet our faculty and staff.


Sonia Alianak

Sonia Alianak
Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 219

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)

Email:
sonia.alianak@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-8059

Natasha Altema-McNeely

Natasha Altema-McNeely
Associate Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 215

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of lowa, 2013

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Race & Ethnicity, Political Institutions, Political Behavior, Voting, Campaigns & Elections)

Email:
natasha.altema@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-5045

Carla Angulo-Pasel

Carla Angulo-Pasel
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 222

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)

Email:
carla.angulopasel@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-8097

Clyde Barrow

Clyde Barrow
Professor & Chair / Edinburg, ELABN 208A

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

Email:
clyde.barrow@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3679

Daniel Chomsky

Daniel Chomsky
Associate Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 200H

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Northwestern University, 1999

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Mass Media & Public Opinion), Political Economy (Politics of Inequality & the Welfare State), Public Policy (Economic Policy)

Email:
daniel.chomsky@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-8993

Mònica Clua-Losada

Mònica Clua-Losada
Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 221

Education: Ph.D., Politics, University of York, UK, 2011

Specializations: Political Economy (Critical Political Economy, Debt & Over-Indebtedness); World Politics (Labor & Social Movements, Spanish & EU Politics); Public Policy (Economic & Social Policy, Children’s Policy)

Email:
monica.clualosada@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-8060

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)

Email:
alexandre.couturegagnon@utrgv.edu
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)

Email:
terence.garrett@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-8825

Sylvia Gonzalez-Gorman

Sylvia Gonzalez-Gorman
Assistant 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)

Email:
sylvia.gonzalezgorman@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3239

Mark Kaswan

Mark Kaswan
Associate Professor / Brownsville, BPOB2 1.103E

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

Email:
mark.kaswan@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-8877

Michelle Keck

Michelle Keck
Associate Professor & Associate Chair / Brownsville, BPOB2 1.103B

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)

Email:
michelle.keck@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-6517

Nicholas Kiersey

Nicholas Kiersey
Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 217

Education: Ph.D., Planning, Governance & Globalization, Virginia Tech, 2007

Specializations: World Politics (International Relations Theory, European Integration, Globalization, Power, Social Movements); Political Economy (Theories of Political Economy, Critical Political Economy); Political Theory

Websites:
www.occupyirtheory.info 
https://utrgv.academia.edu/NicholasKiersey

Email:
nicholas.kiersey@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3342

Dongkyu Kim

Dongkyu Kim
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 211

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

Email:
dongkyu.kim@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3700

Mi-son Kim

Mi-son Kim
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 213

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Iowa, 2015

Specializations: World 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)

Email:
mison.kim@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3808

Richard T. Longoria

Richard T. Longoria
Associate Professor / Brownsville, BPOB2 1.103F

Education: Ph.D., Government and Politics, The University of Maryland, 2006

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Public Opinion, State Politics, Political Institutions); Public Policy (Normative Policy Analysis, U.S. Education Policy)

Email:
richard.longoria@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-6511

Kirstin Munro

Kirstin Munro
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 204

Education: Ph.D., Urban Studies, Portland State University, 2017

Specializations: Political Economy (Critical Political Economy, Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Methods); Public Policy (Energy and Environmental Policy, Urban and Regional Policy, Economic and Social Policy); Political Theory (History of Economic Thought, Feminist Theory)

Email:
kirstin.munro@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665 8854

Chris O'Kane

Chris O'Kane
Assistant Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 223

Education: Ph.D., Social and Political Thought, University of Sussex, 2013

Specializations: Political Theory (Critical Theory, Modern and Contemporary Social and Political Thought, The History of Political Thought); Political Economy (History of Economic Thought, Theories of Political Economy, Critical Political Economy)

Website: https://utrgv.academia.edu/ChrisOKane

Email:
christopher.okane@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3393

Charles Olney

Charles Olney
Assistant Professor & Pre-Law Advisor for Brownsville / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.220

Education: Ph.D., Politics, University of California - Santa Cruz, 2014

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Constitutional Law, Judicial Process); Political Theory (Modern and Contemporary); World Politics (International Law)

Website: https://utrgv.academia.edu/CharlesOlney

Email:
charles.olney@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-7436

William Sokoloff

William Sokoloff
Associate Professor / Edinburg, ELABN 204A

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2002

Specializations: Political Theory (Modern, Contemporary, American, Gender); U.S. Government & Politics (Race & Ethnicity)

Website: https://utrgv.academia.edu/WilliamSokoloff/

Email:
william.sokoloff@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3344

Charles W. Chapman

Charles W. Chapman
Lecturer II / Brownsville, BSETB-M0 1.126D

Education: Ph.D., Public Administration, The University of Texas at Austin, 1980

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Public Law, The Judiciary, The U.S. Constitution); Public Policy (Policy Analysis)

Email:
charles.chapman@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-7243

Michael DeLor

Michael DeLor
Lecturer II / Edinburg, ELABN 212

Education: Ph.D., Public Administration and Public Affairs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2014

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Public Administration); Public Policy

Email:
michael.delor@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3347

Kay Ford

Kay Ford
Lecturer II / Edinburg, ELABN 218

Education: M.A., Political Science, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2003

Specializations: World Politics (U.S. Foreign Policy, Middle East Politics); Public Policy (Geopolitics of Energy Policy, Alternative Energy Policy)

Email:
kay.ford@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-8064

William A. Gordon

William A. Gordon
Lecturer II & Pre-Law Advisor for Edinburg / 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)

Email:
william.gordon@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3322

James Parisot

James Parisot
Lecturer I

Education: Ph.D., Sociology, Binghamton University, 2016

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (History of American Capitalism); World Politics (Globalization, Emerging Powers)

Email:
james.parisot@utrgv.edu

Sarah V. Perez

Sarah V. Perez
Lecturer I / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.221

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)

Email:
sarah.perez@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-7426

Ruth Ann Ragland

Ruth Ann Ragland
Senior Lecturer / Brownsville, BSETB-M0 1.126A

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, The University of North Texas, 1995

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Media & Politics, State & Local Government, Political Behavior)

Email:
ruth.ragland@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-4323

Andrew H. Smith

Andrew H. Smith
Lecturer I / Edinburg, ELABN 230

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, 2018

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Judicial Politics, Public Law, Political Behavior, Judicial Elections)

Email:
andrew.smith@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3037

Michael Todd Smith

Michael Todd Smith
Lecturer I / 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)

Email:
michael.smith@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-8890

Robert W. Velez

Robert W. Velez
Lecturer I / Edinburg, ELABN 228

Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Southern Illinois University, 2017

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (Religion & Politics, Media & Politics, Social / Political Movements)

Email:
robert.velez@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-8016

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)

Email:
jpolinard@rgv.rr.com

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 & Politics; World Politics (Mexico & Latin America)

Email:
gjmounce@gmail.com

Glynn R. Morgan

Glynn R. Morgan
Associate Professor Emeritus

Education: M.A., Political Science, University of Mississippi, 1962

Specializations: U.S. Government & Politics (U.S. Party Politics, Congressional & Legislative Politics, Campaigns & Elections, State Politics)

It is with great sadness that we inform faculty, students, and the community of the passing of Glynn Morgan, who served the university for 52 years.
LINK TO OBITUARY

Email:
glynn.morgan@verizon.net

Dora Sallie Maldonado

Dora Sallie Maldonado
Administrative Assistant II / Edinburg, ELABN 208

Email:
dora.maldonado@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-665-3341
Fax: 956-665-2805

Marcela Escalante

Marcela Escalante
Administrative Assistant I / Brownsville, BMSLC 3.218

Email:
ela.escalante@utrgv.edu
Phone:
956-882-8890
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