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.
Public Launch of the International Justice Lab
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, The Grio and more
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, in particular 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 special guest, 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 to 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 Africa is a Country Politics Section
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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
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Commentary for Africa is a Country Politics Section
**Highlighted in The New York Times The Interpreter newsletter
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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
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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
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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
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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
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For the Best Paper in the Social Sciences, "Exceptionalism and Exemptionalism: Framing US Public Opinion on the International Criminal Court".
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Read paper here.
Guest Lecture: "Justice in the Aftermath of Repression"
February 2018
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Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
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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
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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
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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 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
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Recipient of a USC Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nominated for the University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
Read more here.
APSA 2017 Recap: Presidential Address, Opening Reception & Keynote
APSA Undergraduate Research Highlights
Invited Talk: "From Victims to Peace Builders"
Guest Lecture: "'Mighty Be Our Powers': Women’s Peacebuilding in Liberia"
April 2017
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Pomona College, Claremont, CA
24 Trojans, the most ever, win National Science Foundation research fellowships
Summer institute helps first-generation and minority students apply for PhD programs
USC Graduate School Fellowship Boot Camp Profile: Kelly Zvobgo
