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Political Science and Global Studies

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Faculty

Dr. Marat Akopian
Title	Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of Global Studies
Email	makopian@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Office	White Hall 319
Dr. Marat Akopian holds a PhD in Political Science from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ). He has taught previously at several universities in Canada, Georgia, and the United States, including the University of Calgary, the Institute for European Studies at Tbilisi State University (Tbilisi, Georgia), and Rutgers University. His research interests include electoral reform in new and established democracies, theory of “democratic peace,” and links between language policy and civic and ethnic forms of national identity. He has regularly presented his research at international conferences and conventions including the American Political Science Association, the Canadian Political Science Association, and the Association for the Study of Nationalities.

Ms. Ilynn Brennan
Title	Adjunct Instructor of Political Science
Email	ibrennan@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5332
Office	White Hall 318
Ms. Brennan is the coach and advisor of Shepherd University’s Debate and Forensics team. Under her direction the team has grown in breadth and excellence, adding numerous trophies to the team’s collection. She earned her Regents Bachelor’s Degree from Shepherd University. In addition to her current role, she has varied experience in training and management in the service sector.
Contact For	Debate and forensics

Dr. Petru Drumea
Title	Adjunct Professor of Geography
Email	pdrumea@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5332
Office	White Hall 333C
Dr. Drumea earned his PhD in Geography at the University of Bucharest, Romania. He holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Geography and Biology from Tiraspol State Pedagogical Institute, Republic of Moldova. He is the author of more than fifty scientific and educational works, including a geography textbook and numerous publications related to geographic methods and curriculum. While geography professor at State University of Tiraspol, he conducted seminars and training sessions in physical, human, environmental, and geographic methods. His active learning methods are now a part of the regular teaching methodologies at State University of Tiraspol.
Contact For	Physical geography, human geography, world regions, environmental geography, and geography curriculum and methods.

Dr. Samuel Greene
Title	Department Chair, Associate Professor of Political Science, and Director of Study Abroad
Email	sgreene@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Office	White Hall 322
Dr. Samuel Greene is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Global Studies at Shepherd University. He also serves as the chair of the department. Prior to coming to Shepherd, he worked at the National Defense College in the United Arab Emirates, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, DC, and Howard Payne University in Texas. Dr. Greene holds a doctorate in Politics from the Catholic University of America, a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from George Fox University. His research interests include insurgency and counterinsurgency, democratization, and internal conflict, with an emphasis on Latin America and the Middle East. His first book, Pathological Counterinsurgency, a critique of U.S. counterinsurgency strategy, was published by Lexington Books in 2018. His articles and policy research have appeared in venues such as Democratization, Defence Studies, Third World Quarterly, Comparative Strategy, the International Journal on World Peace, Electoral Studies, the online version of the Journal of Democracy and the Defense and Technology Papers series at the National Defense University.

Ms. Monica Fleming
Title	Adjunct Instructor of Geography
Email	mfleming@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5332
Office	White Hall 333C
Ms. Fleming earned her M.A. in Geography with Specialization in GIS from West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, and subsequently completed credits in their doctorate program. She earned her baccalaureate degree in Geography from Concord College, Athens, WV. She has worked in historical interpretation and programming at historic sites, including Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, WV. She has also served as GIS specialist with the WV Department of Agriculture. She holds several professional certifications, including emergency medical care and forensic investigation.
Contact For	World cultural geography, world regions, historical geography, emergency preparedness and response and GIS.

Dr. Max Guirguis
Title	Professor of Political Science
Email	mguirgui@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5266
Office	White Hall 312C
Dr. Max Guirguis is Professor of Political Science. His primary teaching responsibilities are in the areas of U.S. Constitutional law and American Politics. He also teaches specialized international courses focusing on the Middle East and International Political Economy

Ms. Tiffany Hine
Title	Adjunct Instructor of Political Science
Email	thine@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5332
Ms. Hine holds a Master of Public Administration degree from West Virginia University and a Master of Business Administration from Shepherd University. She earned her baccalaureate degree in political science from West Virginia University. She is program manager and associate professor at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Martinsburg, WV. There she designed and launched the Agribusiness Program. At Blue Ridge she provides vision and leadership for industry partnerships and training and economic development activities. She teaches American federal government and multiple business courses.
Contact For	American federal government; public administration; business administration; industry partnerships.

Dr. David R. Hixson
Title	Adjunct Professor of Geography
Email	dhixs01@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5332
Office	White Hall 333C
Dr. Hixson earned his PhD and M.A. degrees in Anthropology from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. He completed his undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Latin American History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He serves as a research associate at the Maya Exploration Center and has extensive experience as an archaeologist and field director, leading or having led projects in multiple locations. He is skilled in the use of multispectral imagery and airborne synthetic radar for the detection of archaeological sites. Much of his work has been in the Maya wetlands of Yucatan, Mexico.
Contact For	Anthropology and archaeology, especially Mesoamerican; world cultural geography; human ecology; field methods; GIS and remote sensing and archaeology.

Dr. Aart Holtslag
Title	Associate Professor of Political Science
Email	aholtsla@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5437
Office	White Hall 332
Dr. Aart Holtslag previously taught at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. His specialization is in International Relations, specifically International Organization, International Law and Human Rights. His research focuses around the role of the individual in global politics as related to international organization, international law, and human rights. He is the advisor for Model UN.

Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer
Title	Professor of Political Science
Email	sslocums@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Office	White Hall 333B
Dr. Stephanie A. Slocum-Schaffer is Professor of Political Science and Co-Coordinator of the Gender and Women’s Studies Program at Shepherd University, where she teaches a variety of courses in American politics, women in politics, research methods, and public policy. Dr. Slocum-Schaffer earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from The American University and received a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in International Affairs and Spanish from Bucknell University. In 2003, she published a book, America in the Seventies: A Lesson In Limits, with Syracuse University Press. She also has published several articles and has made numerous presentations at conferences. Her current research focus is shared between two major areas of study: the impact of perceptions of incivility on American civic engagement, as well as the different pedagogical techniques, approaches, and structures that enhance student learning at the undergraduate level.