Education
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, University of Kansas, Projected: May 2021
- Majors: Comparative Politics and International Relations
- Minor Field: Research Methods
MA: Master of Arts in Political Science, University of Kansas, May 2018
- Primary Fields: Comparative Politics and International Relations,
- Secondary Field: Research Methods
BSBA: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, University of Central Missouri, December 2015
- Major: Economics
- Minor: Political Science
Teaching Experience
2020: Adjunct Instructor, Wichita State University (Spring, Summer)
- POLS 220: Introduction to International Relations (online)
2016 – 2020: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Political Science University of Kansas; Lawrence, Kansas (supervisor Dr. Mark Joslyn and Dr. Nazli Avdan)
- 2019-2020 POLS 110: Introduction to American Politics
- 2018-2019 POLS 306: Political Science Methods of Inquiry
- 2017-2018 POLS 170: Introduction to International Politics
- 2016-2017 POLS 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics
2019-2020: Instructor, Highland Community College (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- POL 100: American Government (in-person, hybrid, online, and distance-learning formats)
2019-2020: Instructor, Highland Community College (Spring)
- POL 115: State and Local Government (in-person and distance-learning formats)
Summer 2019: Instructor of Record, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Political Science University of Kansas; Lawrence, Kansas (supervisor Dr. Nazli Avdan)
- POLS 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics (Online)
Summer 2018: Instructor of Record, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Political Science University of Kansas; Lawrence, Kansas (supervisor Dr. Mark Joslyn)
- POLS 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics (Online)
Research Experience and Training
Research Interests
- Authoritarian Regime Constitutions
- Competitive Authoritarian Regimes
- Authoritarian Institutions
- Authoritarian Regimes
- Authoritarian Attitudes
- Research Methods
- Comparative Institutions
Conference Presentations
- “Rubber Stamps, Window Dressings, or Blueprints: Legislative Autonomy and Authority in Authoritarian Constitutions”. Presenting at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, January 2020
- “Do Autocrats Follow the Rules? A New Measure of Functional Effectiveness of Constitutions in Authoritarian Regimes”. Presenting at the Great Plains Political Science Association Conference, October 2019
- “How Authoritarian Are We?: Non-Democratic Institutions and Public Opinion in the American Context” with Alexandra T. Middlewood. Presenting at the Midwestern Political Science Association Conference, April 2019
- “The Role of Elections on Repression Levels in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes”. Presenting at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, January 2019
- “Party Behavior in Authoritarian Regimes” with Holly Rains and Haruka Nagao. Presenting at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, January 2019
- “American Authoritarianism: Attitudes as Determinants of Support of Authoritarian Regimes” with Alexandra T. Middlewood. Presenting at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, January 2019
- “Repression, Elections, and Competitiveness in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes”. Presenting at the Great Plains Political Science Association Conference, October 2018
- “Economic Motives, Strategic Behavior, and Chinese Construction of Artificial Islands in the South China Sea” with John Crooker. Presenting at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, January 2018
- “Strategic Behavior in the South China Sea: Do economic interests motivate China’s construction of artificial islands” with John Crooker. Presenting at the Southern Economics Association Conference, November 2017
Research Awards
2019: Thompson Scholar Summer Research Award, Department of Political Science, University of Kansas, $3000
2019: Graduate Scholarly Presentation Travel Fund, University of Kansas, $500
2018: Thompson Scholar Summer Research Award, Department of Political Science, University of Kansas, $3000
2018: Southern Political Science Association Travel Grant Award, $300
2017: Thompson Scholar Summer Research Award, Department of Political Science, University of Kansas, $3000
Methodological Training
- Research Software
- R, Stata
- Quantitative Methods
- Qualitative Methods
LMS Training
- Blackboard
- Moodle
- Canvas
Professional Service
2020: Member, Millett Best Paper in Political Science Award Selection Committee. Wichita State University
2020: Allan J. Cigler Academic Enrichment Fund Award with Dr. John J. Kennedy and undergraduate Aylar Atadurdyyeva, “Constitutions and How They Function in Central Asia”
2019-2020: Secretariat Member, American Model United Nations International, Chicago, IL
- American Model United Nations (AMUN) is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1989 to provide students with the highest quality, most professionally run simulation of the United Nations available. AMUN strives to combine educational quality with highly realistic simulations of the United Nations to give students an unparalleled Model UN learning experience.
- Extensive Training in Socratic Method and conflict resolution (GRIPI)
2019: Moderator at the Great Plains Political Science Association Conference. Panel-Kansas Politics Roundtable
2019: Member, Luzatti Internship Scholarship Selection Committee. Wichita State University
2019: Discussant at the Southern Political Science Association Conference. Panel-Comparative Politics: Electoral Systems
University Service
2018 – 2019: President, Political Science Graduate Student Association
2018 – 2019: President, Pi Sigma Alpha
2017 – 2018: Vice President, Political Science Graduate Student Association
2017 – 2018: Vice President, Pi Sigma Alpha
2017: “Zotero 101: An Introduction to the Basics” with Alexandra Middlewood, Brownbag Lecture Series, Department of Political Science, University of Kansas
2016 – 2017: First Year Representative, Political Science Graduate Student Association
Rachel Finnell 