Current Doctoral Students
Meet current doctoral students within the Department of Political Science at Western Michigan University and learn about their interests.
Rahel Kessete Afewerky
Education: B.A., Adi Keyh College of Arts and Social Sciences, M.A., Marmara University, Institute of Social Sciences
Homayun Arian
Education: M.I.D.A., Western Michigan University, B.B.A., Kardan Institute of Higher Education
Davis Arthur-Yeboah
Research interests: political economy of development, African politics, women and politics, civil society, democratization
Field of specialization: comparative politics, American politics
Education: B.A., University of Ghana, M.I.D.A., Western Michigan University
Rahul Arya
Education: M.P.A., Lee Luan Yew School, National University of Singapore, L.L.B., University of Delhi, M.A., University of Delhi, B.A., University of Delhi,
Dedefo Bedaso
Research Interests: Comparative Politics, Public International Law, Immigration, African Politics, Democratization, Human Rights, International Relations, Nationality, and Ethnicity
Specialization: Comparative Politics, Public International Law, Immigration
Education: L.L.M., University of Cincinnati Law, B.L. Jimma University
Adam Bennett
Research interests: UK politics, Western European politics, American electoral behavior
Field of specialization: comparative politics, American politics
Education: B.A., State Cloud State University
Brittany Brake
Research interests: ancient and medieval political philosophy, modern political philosophy, Platonic thought, utopian studies, civic republicanism, rational choice theory
Field of specialization: political philosophy, American politics
Education: B.A., Wittenberg University; M.A., Western Michigan University
Abi Chamlagai
Research interests: democratization, civil society and social movement
Field of specialization: comparative politics, political philosophy
Education: M.A., University of New Mexico
Yu Cheng
Research interests: Chinese politics, authoritarian institutions, state and governance, ethnicity
Field of specialization: comparative politics
Education: M.P.A., University of Miami
Nofisat Eletu
Research Interests: political participation, public opinion, democratization, gender and politics, social movement, immigration, political behavior, race and politics, media and politics, political thoughts, and political theory
Education: B.A., Augustana College, M.A. Western Illinois University
Elijah Elshun
Education: B.A., Kwame Nkrumah, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, M.A., Eastern Illinois University
Michael Girman
Education: B.A., Hope College
Rei Gordon
Research interests: ethnic conflict and corruption in sub-Saharan Africa
Field of specialization: democratization, nationalism and ethnicity
Education: B.A., Pepperdine University, M.A., Western Michigan University
Kristoffer Haymon
Education: B.A., M.A., Central Michigan University
Ilay Inceefe
Education: M.I.D.A., Western Michigan University, M.A., B.A., Middle Eastern Technical University
Stuart Kerr
Education: B.A., Regent University, M.A., Western Michigan University
Sinthia Chakma Krisna
Education: B.A., Monash College, M.A., Universidade De Evora
Sheri Rogers
Education: M.A., Western Michigan University, B.A., Calvin College
Leyla Sadigova
Research interests: political parties and ideologies in the US. women in politics, Political parties and Environmental policies, Political Analysis of Federal Welfare Policies, The role of Media in civic engagement.
Field of specialization: American politics, Theory of Political Science
Education: B.A., European studies, Qafqaz University, Azerbaijan, MPA, ADA University, Azerbaijan, MPA Bowling Green State University
Manuel Soque
Research interests: civil society, social movements, democratization, political economy of development, money-laundering and terrorism financing, campaign and elections
Field of specialization: comparative politics, American politics
Education: B.A., Catholic University of Angola, M.A., Western Michigan University
Gleb Smirnov
Education: University of Denver
Anish Kumar Thokar
Education: B.A., Tribhuvan University, M.A., Purbanchal University, M.A. Mahidol University