Department of Politics & International Affairs Spring 2009 Newsletter, Northern Arizona University

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Alumni Profile Keep In Touch
Ernest Calderon (B.S. Political Science ‘79)
Ernest Calderon is a man of many talents: Alumni, keep us posted! Perhaps we could
lawyer, educator, citizen, and defender of profile you in an upcoming issue, or welcome
Northern Arizona University. He currently you back to talk to current students. How are
serves on the Arizona Board of Regents you using your degree? Are you working in the
and recently was a member of Governor political realm – for a government agency or
Jan Brewer’s transition team. non-profit group? Did that internship help you
land a job after graduation? Tell us about your
Ernie credits his professional and public law or graduate school experience.
success to the education he received as
a political science student at NAU in the Send us your information and be sure to include
mid-1970’s. “I still remember the words of your current business card so we can post it on
influential professors like Lenny Ritt and our wall of fame!
Bob Poirier. They told me that anything is possible in politics. All
To keep up on the latest from the Department of
it takes is hard work.”
Politics and International Affairs, check out our
He champions the interests of NAU whenever he gets the chance. website at nau.edu/pos. You can also follow
Reflecting on his work with the Arizona Board of Regents, Ernie us on Facebook and Twitter (NAU_Politics). And
is most proud of helping NAU to receive financing for the largest please consider donating to the department or
wave of building construction in the university’s history. He has scholarship funds to assist current students.
also helped NAU achieve financial stability during a period of cuts
in higher education.
With friends like Ernie Calderon, NAU is better prepared to weather
the storm of budget deficits. He continues to help NAU stay
on track with growing enrollment and continued excellence of
program delivery.

2. Politics and International Affairs
Newsletter
SPR 2009
Note from the Chair
Inside This Edition
Welcome to the latest edition of the Department
Biopiracy of Biodiversity
of Politics and International Affairs newsletter.
Politics and
As the new department chair, I’m happy to share
International Affairs
all the good news coming out of our department.
Graduate Student News
Although this has been a difficult year for
Faculty Profile
universities, especially in Arizona, I’m proud to say
Student Profile
that our department remains strong and continues
to do excellent work. Our faculty and students
Professor Spends Time
at Princeton are receiving wide recognition for their many
accomplishments. Join me in reading about and
Alumni Quotes
celebrating these achievements.
Alumni Profile
Do you enjoy staying in touch with the department
on a regular basis? We have jumped into the digital age. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
(NAU_Politics) where we regularly post department news and event announcements. Stay tuned
for the launch of our e-mail newsletter, which will initially be published monthly. E-mail me
at Fred.Solop@nau.edu if you’d like to receive this mailing. Finally, we’ll be posting a new
website soon. In addition to being a primary source of information about department programs,
the website will allow users to create profiles and interact with each other. The bottom line… we
invite you to stay in touch with your Department of Politics and International Affairs.
Fred Solop
Professor and Chair
Department of Politics and International Affairs
Biopiracy of Biodiversity
Dr. Carol Thompson and Zimbabwean agronomist Andrew Mushita recently
published a book: Biopiracy of Biodiversity: Global Exchange as Enclosure.
The book provides an analysis of Northern financial and trade institutions
that impose ‘free’ trade agreements, the World Trade Organization (WTO),
and Bill Gates’ ‘Green Revolution’ upon African farmers.
According to Carol, biopiracy involves the failure to recognize or compensate
indigenous sources of seeds and other genetic resources and stealing or
destroying seeds and other genetic resources, either by patenting them or by
polluting them through use of genetically modified organisms. The patenting of
genetic material is a cultural affront to an indigenous perspective which rejects
the ownership of life.
Carol has spent 10 years living in Africa and learning how these issues affect Africans. She works as a policy analyst for the
Community Technology Development Trust in Zimbabwe, directed by Mushita. The Trust supports indigenous seed banks and
seed exchanges across southern Africa and promotes the sustainable use of natural resources among small farmers.
Carol emphasizes that the purpose of her work is not to ‘enlighten,’ but to learn. She notes that Africans already have sustainable
alternatives to U.S. industrial agriculture. At a time when localization is becoming increasingly popular as a solution to the problems of
globalization, she says that Africans have a lot to teach us.

3. Politics and International Affairs Faculty Profile
Graduate Student News
Dr. Stephen Nuño began his first semester as an
assistant professor in the department in a whirlwind of
Defenses
activity. During the 2008 election, Stephen put many
Aleticia Tijerina successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on
hours into designing and implementing an exit poll
November 19, 2008.
in Los Angeles, in addition to his teaching load. The
Paul Vaughn successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on
project was funded by Loyola Marymount University’s
November 21, 2008.
Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of
The department congratulates our spring 2009 Ph.D. graduates: Brigette Bush, Los Angeles, and employed 200 students.
Anna Nalwood, and Naomi Piñion.
Jobs
Sara Rinfret, Ph.D. candidate, recently accepted a full-time tenure track
position at University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.
Publications
Ervin, Justin [Ph.D. Student] and Smith, Zachary A. 2008. Globalization.
ABC-CLIO.
Smith, Zachary A. and Taylor, Katrina D. [Ph.D. Student] 2008.
Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources. ABC-CLIO.
Bengtsson, Elin, Björklund, Frida, Dahlström, Hanna [M.A. Student],
Stephen and his associates found that while the major
et. al. 2008. Alerta – Reportage från ett Ecuador i förändring.
polls reported 68 percent of African Americans voting
Stockholm, Nixon.
for California’s Proposition 8, the Leavey Center
Hanna Dahlström [M.A. Student] published a chapter in the book: data indicated the vote to be closer to 50 percent.
Klint, Anna, ed. 2008. Ursprungsfolk i Världen. ”Oljan i Ecuador – Stephen attributes the difference to the number of
företagens myter och huaoranifolkets verklighet” p. 56-61 and ”Huaorani – polling locations used in different exit polls. While
till regnskogens försvar” p. 62-63. Stockholm, Föreningen Fjärde Världen. some exit polls collected information at about 15
locations, the Leavey Center poll canvassed 50 sites,
thus increasing the potential for more accurate results.
Presentations
Ana Caballero-Mengibar, Ph.D. candidate, presented “Constructing
Neo-racialized Discourses and the Imagining of a Spanish National With funding from the Pew Center, Stephen is working
Identity” at the International Studies Association Conference, to increase online voter registration at the state level.
February 2009. He will also be contributing to an edited volume on the
2008 primaries and authoring an article on Latinos in
Sara Rinfret, Ph.D. candidate, presented “Changing the Rules: Interest
the 2008 election for PS: Political Science and Politics.
Groups and Federal Environmental Rulemaking” at the Western Political
Science Association Annual Meeting, March 2009.
Benning Tieke, Ph.D. student, presented “Evaporated Sovereignty:
The Legacy of British Colonialism and Indigenous Water Rights” at the
Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting, March 2009.
NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution/UM_1180_04.09
Katrina Taylor, Ph..D. student, presented “Climate Activism: An
Indicator of U.S. Transformation Into a Risk Society?” at the Western
Social Science Association Conference, April 2009.
Heather Farley, Ph.D. student, presented “A Contemporary Analysis
of the National Environmental Policy Act” at the Western Social Science
Association Conference, April 2009.
Kristi Ross, Ph.D. student, presented “Environmental Policy in Less
Industrialized Countries: What’s Pluralism Got to Do With It?” at the
Western Social Science Association Conference, April 2009.
Departmental Graduate Research Awards
Justin Ervin — Globalization and Environmental Degradation
Naomi Piñon — Marriage Equality in Arizona and Massachusetts
Sara Rinfret — Changing the Rules: Environmental Rulemaking
Beth Brown — Hind Swaraj a Hundred Years Later: Gandhi, Globalization,
and Resistance in India
Hanna Dahlström -- Endangered Peoples and Engendered Representation:
Huaorani and Oil “Development”
Professor Carol Thompson presented her sabbatical talk, African
Alternatives for 21st Century Sustainability, on March 11.

4. Student Profile
Alumni Quotes
Danielle Winder, an NAU undergraduate student, is spending the semester as
an intern at the Bureau of Economic Analysis in Washington, D.C. As part of
the Washington Semester Program, she is doing research on regional economic “In the Department of Political Science, I found dedicated
developments and their effects, or lack thereof, on state Gross Domestic Product. faculty eager to offer intellectual stimulation and support.
Danielle’s internship in Washington, DC was made possible by generous support This allowed me to grow as an individual and undertake
with a scholarship from the Department of Politics and International Affairs Roy
greater challenges. Furthermore, it facilitated active,
and Delores Morey Award. The Morey Award is awarded once a year to an NAU
sustained involvement on campus. For example, when
student conducting an internship in Washington, DC.
I arrived at NAU the Model United Nations group was
small and unimpressive. By the time I graduated, we had
Danielle is also learning a great deal by attending the lectures of government
tripled membership, won numerous awards, and built a
officials from agencies such as the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit
strong relationship with NAU faculty and administrators.
Insurance Corporation, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The experience of working with economists in Model UN continues to thrive today because of a
this environment is invaluable for Danielle, who aspires to be an economist mutual commitment to excellence by students and the
herself – and the timing is great. department. This experience has inspired me to stay
connected and give back.”
Danielle also enjoyed the great timing afforded by being in D.C. during
the inauguration, saying the experience was “inspirational, memorable, and
Corey Bennet
essential.” Now that she has adjusted to commuting by public transportation
in lieu of her own car, she is finding herself right at home. For students B.A. International Affairs, ’03
considering a future out-of-state internship, Danielle says, “research the Law Clerk, Rukin, Hyland, Doria, and Tindall
company, have an idea of what you want to contribute to the company, and a
clear understanding of the dynamics of the organization.”
“As a graduate of the Political Science Department, I was
Professor Spends Time at Princeton
lucky to have professors and classmates that opened
my mind to different ways of thinking about the world.
Dr. David Schlosberg spent this spring
What I learned in classes like Women, Power, and
as the Currie C. and Thomas A. Barron
Visiting Professor in Environment Politics; Campaign and Elections; and Modern Political
and Humanities at Princeton Thought stays with me today. Being fortunate enough
University. The position promotes the to parlay my degree into a career where politics plays
interdisciplinary exchange of academic a central role, I’m truly grateful for all the experiences I
ideas and teaching experiences had during my four years in the department.”
involving environmental issues. It is a
joint appointment between Princeton’s
Tracy Keller
Environmental Institute (PEI) and the
University Center for Human Values.
B.S. Political Science, ‘99
Capitol Reports Coordinator,
This latest honor gave David the
Arizona News Service /Arizona Capitol Times
opportunity to teach an undergraduate
course on environmental, ecological,
and climate justice. David also traveled
around the country promoting his latest
“I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the
book, with speaking engagements
MPA program at NAU. My work with the professors
at Hamilton and Swarthmore Colleges, Tufts University, Penn State, and
and fellow students laid the foundation that opened
Northeastern University, in addition to a public talk at Princeton.
tremendous windows of opportunity. The academics
David also used his time in Princeton’s academic environs to complete papers combined with my internship at Coconino County
he has been working on in the areas of indigenous environmental justice, justice really put my career on the right track. I love what I
to nature and natural systems, and on a theory of climate justice. He brings his do now, make a good living and really feel like I make
experiences back to the NAU community early summer 2009. a difference in the community. My experiences with
the Politics and International Affairs Department heavily
“Many of NAU’s faculty in Politics and International Affairs share their
contributed to my success and I encourage others to
knowledge at various national and international conferences, invited talks,
explore opportunities here.”
faculty exchanges, and visiting positions like this one. This helps increase the
presence of NAU, and especially our areas of expertise such as environmental
Jeremy Legg
politics, diversity politics, and global development,” David said.
David recently served as Lecturer of Political Theory at the London School of M.P.A. Political Science, ‘02
Economics and as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the Australian National University. Economic Development Program Manager,
City of Phoenix