International Justice Lab Public Launch Event
January 2020
Thank you all for joining us for our launch! William & Mary Provost Peggy Agouris exhorted us to engage the challenges facing international law and justice, Wayne Sandholtz, Tanisha Fazal, and Layla Abi-Falah shared their insider insights, and I discussed my vision for IJL. Read more about the event here.
Truth Commission Experts Meeting at Auschwitz Institute
December 2019
Convened by the Auschwitz Institute, the truth commission experts meeting brought together a dozen scholars and practitioners to explore how commissions may contribute to atrocity prevention by reducing social fragmentation and governance risk factors.
Introducing the International Justice Lab
October 2019
The International Justice Lab brings together faculty and students from across the United States to conduct research on human rights, transitional justice, and international law and courts. We aim to produce high-quality social science research that is relevant to policy makers, practitioners, and civil society advocates.
Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission
September 2019
Joined a group of distinguished speakers to publicly launch the commission and participated in a roundtable with Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Maryland House Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk (21st District), the primary sponsor of the enacting legislation.
Visit of the Comisión por la Memoria to William & Mary
September 2019
La Comisión is an independent and autonomous public body established in 1999 to promote and implement public policies of memory and human rights. The advocates' work on human rights and transitional justice issues precedes the Comisión, however, for some dating back to the junta and the transition to democracy in 1983.
American Political Science Association 2019 Best Human Rights Paper Award
August 2019
Received the 2019 Best Paper Award from the American Political Science Association's Human Rights Section on behalf of myself and my coauthor, Wayne Sandholtz for "Reserving Rights: Explaining Human Rights Treaty Reservations." Read it here.
Analysis: "Maryland has created a truth commission on lynchings – can it deliver?"
June 2019
Analysis for The Conversation
Read article here. Reprinted in the Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Blavity, theGrio, and others.
Analysis: "The Trump administration opposes the International Criminal Court. Do Americans agree?"
Invited Talk: "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights"
International Studies Association 2019 Best Human Rights Paper Award
March 2019
Received the 2019 Best Paper Award from the International Studies Association's Human Rights Section on behalf of myself and my colleague, Benjamin Graham for "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights." Read it here.
Invited Panel: "Research Ethics in Political Science"
February 2019
Organized by William & Mary's Social Science Research Methods Center (SSRMC), the panel – featuring Dr. Paula Pickering, Dr. Phil Roessler, and me – engaged the ethics of conducting political science research, notably where subjects are recovering from repression and conflict.
Analysis: "Human rights workers are getting killed in Colombia. Here’s what could help save the peace."
February 2019
Analysis for The Washington Post, with Shauna N. Gillooly
Our research shows that these things encourage former combatants to testify in truth and reconciliation hearings. Read article here.
USC Special Guest Workshop, feat. Beth Simmons
February 2019
Facilitated a workshop with Dr. Beth Simmons, Andrea Mitchell University Professor of Law, Political Science and Business Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania. Hosted by the USC Center for International Studies, participants helped workshop Simmons' new project on border orientation in a globalizing world.
UC Santa Barbara 2018 Human Rights Roundtable
November 2018
Convened by the Mellichamp Chair, Dr. Alison Brysk, and the Orfalea Research Hub in Global Governance and Human Rights, this roundtable tracked emerging frontiers in human rights scholarship, including struggles over institutions for accountability, new frameworks such as water rights, the role of advocacy, and global migration.
Invited Workshop: "Journeys in World Politics"
October 2018
Organized by Dr. Sara Mitchell and Dr. Kelly Kadera at the University of Iowa, the 12th Journeys workshop brought together junior and senior women scholars in International Relations for research presentations, sessions on career and gender topics, and oral autobiographies by senior scholars.
More information available here.
Workshop: "Building Undergraduate Research Labs in the Social Sciences"
October 2018
Co-organized a workshop at the USC Center for Excellence in Research with my colleagues, Megan Becker and Benjamin Graham. Workshop presenters included Michael Findley from UT-Austin and Michael Tierney from William & Mary. Pictured is our featured student panel.
International Studies Association West Region 2018 Best Faculty Paper Award
September 2018
Received the 2018 Best Faculty Paper Award from the International Studies Association-West on behalf of myself and my colleague, Benjamin Graham for "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights." Read it here.
Reflection: "Eddison Zvobgo and the Struggle for Zimbabwe"
August 2018
Reflection for the Africa is a Country Politics Section
Eddison Zvobgo was both implicated in and a critic of Mugabe's rule. He paid for it. His niece remembers him. Read reflection piece here.
Commentary: "Why Governance Will Go from Bad to Worse in Zimbabwe"
August 2018
Commentary for the Africa is a Country Politics Section
Events around the recent election in Zimbabwe are evidence that transitional justice is needed before true political reform can take place. Read commentary piece here.
USC Graduate School Social Sciences Ph.D. Student Spotlight
August 2018
Spotlighted in the University of Southern California's new promotional video for graduate studies. Video also features four of my undergraduate research assistants and SPEC Lab PI, Benjamin Graham. View here.
Third-Annual USC POIR Predoctoral Institute for First-Generation and Diverse Scholars
July 2018
Helped advise 35 first-generation and diverse BA and MA students from across California on pursuing a Ph.D., writing applications, building research skills, securing mentors, and navigating the Ivory Tower as a member of an underrepresented group. For more information on the Institute, click here.
Invited Talk: "Reserving Rights: Examining Human Rights Treaty Reservations"
Invited Speaker: "Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP) Conference" at William & Mary
July 2018
Taught first-generation and high school students of color from across Virginia about transitional justice in South Africa and lessons for the US. Spoke alongside local and state politicians of color on issues of truth and justice for our communities. More event details available here.
Invited Talk: "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights"
2018 USC Graduate Research Symposium Best Paper Award Winner
February 2018
For the Best Paper in the Social Sciences, "Exceptionalism and Exemptionalism: Framing US Public Opinion on the International Criminal Court".
Read paper here.
Guest Lecture: "Justice in the Aftermath of Repression"
February 2018
Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
Lecture for the Georgetown Government Department's seminar on race, rights, and reparations. Juxtaposed experiences of transitional justice in South Africa and my native Zimbabwe.
2018 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference Closing Meeting
February 2018
Shared key insights from the Disciplinary Curriculum and Assessment track at the final meeting of the 2018 APSA Teaching & Learning Conference. I also presented a paper during the weekend on pedagogical innovations in the SPEC Lab.
Winner of the 2018 ISA-West Best Faculty Paper Award
January 2018
On January 31, the International Studies Association-West announced that my colleague, Benjamin Graham and I won the Best Faculty Paper Award for "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights," presented at the 2017 conference.
Read paper here.
Map: World Bank human rights complaints
Commentary: "The Uncertain Future for Transitional Justice in Zimbabwe"
November 2017
Commentary for the Africa is a Country Politics Section
Chief among the political obstacles to transitional justice in Zimbabwe is the president's own role in the 1980s violence. Read commentary piece here.
USC 27th Annual Awards for Excellence in Teaching
November 2017
Recipient of a USC Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nominated for the University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
Read more here.
Guest Lecture: "'Mighty Be Our Powers': Women’s Peacebuilding in Liberia"
April 2017
Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Summer institute helps first-generation and minority students apply for PhD programs
USC Graduate School Fellowship Boot Camp Profile: Kelly Zvobgo
Analysis: "Why the International Criminal Court will investigate possible U.S. war crimes – even if the Trump administration says it can't"
March 2020
Analysis for The Washington Post
My research suggests Americans may support the investigation. Read article here.
Analysis: "Some lawmakers are calling for truth commissions on racial violence. How do these work?"
June 2020
Analysis for The Washington Post, with Carla Winston
These factors help commissions create effective solutions. Read article here.
Pomona College Alumni Career Story
November 2019
Five years after graduating from Pomona College, I share what I've been up to since. Read here:
Argument: "Why Race Matters in International Relations"
June 2020
Argument in Foreign Policy, with Meredith Loken
Western dominance and White privilege permeate the academic field of International Relations, with little awareness or discussion. It’s time to change that. Read article here.
Feature: "Why Race Matters in International Relations"
July/August 2020
Reprint of our essay in the Foreign Policy summer 2020 print issue, "Will This Time Be Different? Transformation after the Pandemic."
Analysis: "Despite U.S. sanctions, the International Criminal Court will keep investigating alleged war crimes in Afghanistan"
June 2020
Analysis for The Washington Post, with Stephen Chaudoin
The U.S. public may not agree with Trump's move. Read article here.
Argument: "Kamala Harris for the People"
August 2020
Argument in Foreign Policy with Claire Crawford
As vice president, Harris would be ready to go toe-to-toe with adversaries, both foreign and domestic. Read article here.
Research Explainer Video: "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights"
September 2020
In this animated video produced by the USC Security and Political Economy Lab, I explain findings from a newly-published article with Benjamin Graham, "The World Bank as an Enforcer of Human Rights," out now in the Journal of Human Rights.
American Society of International Law: Expert Panel: "US Sanctions and the International Criminal Court"
September 2020
I was one of five experts invited by the American Society of International Law to discuss the United States' new sanctions regime against the International Criminal Court. We deliberated how the sanctions will work and their potential consequences for US domestic and foreign policy. Watch the video here.
The New School Scholar Panel: "Race, Racism and International Relations"
September 2020
I was one of four scholars invited by The New School to discuss race and racism in International Relations, from the field's intellectual foundations to its service to Western imperial projects to its implications for how we recruit, train, and mentor the next generation of scholars. Watch video here.
Bridging the Gap Panel: "What to Do When Your Research Gets Disrupted"
August 2020
I was one of five political scientists invited by American University and the Bridging the Gap Project to discuss how scholars using interview, focus group, and archival research methods can continue to conduct meaningful amidst disruptions, namely Covid-19. Watch the video here.
Analysis: "Some people want a U.S. truth commission. But truth commissions have limits."
October 2020
Analysis for The Washington Post, with Claire Crawford
Our research explains what these commissions can and cannot do. Read article here.
24 Trojans, the most ever, win National Science Foundation research fellowships
Invited Talk: "From Victims to Peace Builders"
APSA Undergraduate Research Highlights
APSA 2017 Recap: Presidential Address, Opening Reception & Keynote
Argument: "Not a Moment but a Movement: The Case for Transitional Justice in the U.S."
December 2020
Argument for Ms. Magazine, with Colleen Murphy
In 2020, the U.S. can and should learn from abroad. The U.S. needs transitional justice. Read article here.
Argument: "‘This Is Not Who We Are’ Is a Great American Myth"
January 2021
Argument in Foreign Policy
The crisis at the U.S. Capitol shows that Americans lack a shared understanding of their political past and present. Transitional justice can help. Read article here.
Essay: "Foreign Policy Begins at Home"
January 2021
Essay for the 50th anniversary issue of Foreign Policy
The best way for Biden and Harris to build better partnerships abroad is to get America’s own house in order—and that begins with human rights. Read essay here.
