About Me
I am an assistant professor in the Department of International Affairs at the University of Georgia. I am also Co-Director of the CIRI Human Rights Data Project, which I have worked on since 2006. I received my PhD in political science from Binghamton University in 2012. My research focuses on the impact of international factors on human rights practices, political violence, and economic development. In particular, I have a strong research interest in the spatial diffusion of these political outcomes, as well as the institutions, organizations, and processes that generate such diffusion. For more information on my academic work, please see my CV and Research pages.
Aside from work, I live in Athens, GA with my wife, Rachel. We met while attending Hendrix College in our home state of Arkansas. After we graduated from Hendrix, we moved to Memphis, TN, where Rachel received her D.D.S. from the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center while I received M.A. degrees in both Political Science and Sociology at the University of Memphis. In the picture on the left, Rachel and I are at my graduation in Memphis. Afterwards, we moved to Binghamton, where I pursued my Ph.D., and Rachel started working for Aspen Dental. Now that we live in Athens, we enjoy nights out with friends, exploring our new surroundings in Georgia, and playing with our dog, Lodi.
In my limited free time, I pursue several hobbies. I have always been interested in music and have played in several bands over the years. Currently, I sing and play guitar in a duo, The Half Lincolns. We play a couple shows every year and try to record when we have spare time, which is rare. Also, I really enjoy running. I have run (quite slowly) two marathons already, and I am already starting to plan a third. The picture to the right was taken at the 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, CA . It was my first marathon, and I completed it as part of Team in Training, a training program that raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It was a great experience for a great cause, and it has made me a runner for life; I would encourage anyone who is interested to give it a shot. Finally, I also really enjoy playing recreational sports. The 2010 Binghamton Leviathan flag football team can be seen in the picture below.
