Department of Government and Justice Studies

Areas of Expertise & Interest:

• Latin American Politics (especially Colombia, Cuba, & Mexico) 
• US Foreign Policy 
• US Drug War (especially in Latin America) 
• Democracy & Democratization 

Education: 

• BSFS, Georgetown University (1984) 
• MA, Latin American Studies, University of Texas, Austin (1986) 
• Ph.D., Political Science, University of Texas, Austin (1992) 

Courses Taught:

• Comparative Politics
• International Relations 
• US Foreign Policy 
• Globalization 
• Latin American Politics 
• Global Conflict & Cooperation: The UN 
• Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics (graduate) 
• Scope & Methods (graduate)

Publications:

“The Fog of War? A Long-Term Assessment of Mexican Counter-Narcotics Policy” The Latin Americanist, Volume 56, Number 2 (June 2012)

“The Never-Ending Drug War: Obstacles to Drug War Policy Termination” PS: Political Science & Politics, January 2012 (45:1)

Lies, Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics. Matt Robinson and Renee Scherlen. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2007 (second edition under contract)

"¡Venceremos!" Castro's Discourse on Cuban Foreign Policy,” in Foreign Policy Toward Cuba: Isolation or Engagement? Heather Nicol and Michele Zebich-Knos, eds., Lexington Books (2005)

Professional:

• Joined ASU in 1992 
• Faculty Advisor for International Relations Association, hosts of the Model UN held here at ASU every spring and fall 

Research Interests:

• Comparative Politics:
  • Cuban Politics
  • Mexican Politics 
• Gender and Politics 
• Globalization 
• Democratization 
• Transitions 
• War on Drugs 
• American Politics 
  • U.S. Foreign Policy 
  • U.S.-Cuban Relations 
  • U.S.-Mexican Relations 
  • NAFTA 
  • U.S.-Latin American Relations 

Service:

• Faculty Advisor, International Relations Association
• Chair: Latin American Studies Committee
• Member: Women's Studies Committee
• Member: International Studies Council