Assistant Professor Changwook Ju Receives ISA Human Rights Section Best Paper Award
The Department of Political Science is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor Changwook Ju has been selected as the winner of the 2025–2026 International Studies Association (ISA) Human Rights Section Best Paper Award for his working paper, “Gender Under Attack: Gender Equality and Rebel Sexual Violence.”
The Best Paper Award is given to the author(s) of the best paper presented at the ISA Annual Convention by a faculty member or human rights professional/activist, and is among the Human Rights Section’s most prestigious annual recognitions. In addition to the honor itself, the award is accompanied by a one-year paid membership in ISA and the Human Rights Section, and Dr. Ju has been invited to submit his paper to the Journal of Human Rights for expedited review and consideration for publication.
Dr. Ju’s award-winning paper examines the relationship between gender equality and sexual violence committed by rebel groups — a timely and important contribution to the fields of conflict studies and human rights. Dr. Ju joined the Tulane faculty as an Assistant Professor of International Relations following the completion of his Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University in 2024.
Congratulations to Dr. Ju on this outstanding achievement!
Political Science Ph.D. Student Andrew Devine Awarded School of Liberal Arts Dissertation Completion Fellowship
The Department of Political Science is delighted to congratulate Ph.D. student Andrew Devine on his selection as a recipient of a 2026–2027 Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF) from the Tulane School of Liberal Arts. Awarded by the Dean's Office on the recommendation of the department, the fellowship provides a $25,000 stipend over nine months, beginning with the fall 2026 semester, along with full coverage of Tulane's Student Health Insurance Plan and a tuition waiver for dissertation research enrollment. The fellowship is designed to allow Devine to dedicate himself fully to the writing and completion of his doctoral dissertation, with the goal of defending and submitting his final dissertation by August 2027. The department extends its warmest congratulations to Andrew and looks forward to celebrating the completion of his degree.
Political Science Ph.D. Student Milena Petrovic Awarded Murphy Institute Dissertation Fellowship
The Department of Political Science is proud to congratulate Ph.D. student Milena Petrovic on her selection as a 2026–2027 Dissertation Fellow by the Center for Public Policy Research (CPPR) at Tulane's Murphy Institute. The prestigious fellowship provides a $28,000 stipend, full coverage of dissertation research registration fees for both the fall and spring semesters, and complete coverage of Tulane's Student Health Insurance Plan — allowing Petrovic to dedicate herself fully to completing her doctoral research. Throughout the fellowship year, she will engage with the Murphy Institute's intellectual community by attending CPPR lectures, seminars, and Murphy Institute events, and will present her research at the Graduate Fellowship Presentation in the spring semester. The department congratulates Milena on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to the continued development of her dissertation work.
Political Science Ph.D. Student Cristian Sena Salcedo Awarded Tinker Foundation Field Research Grant
The Department of Political Science is pleased to congratulate Ph.D. student Cristian Andres Sena Salcedo on receiving a Tinker Foundation Summer Field Research Grant from Tulane’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies. Sena Salcedo was selected to receive $2,000 in support of his project, “The Impact of Communal Conflicts on Policy Change and Regulatory Development,” which will take him to Colombia for preliminary field research this summer. The grant, administered through the Stone Center Graduate Summer Grant Committee, covers airfare, transportation, and subsistence expenses, and recipients also receive international medical insurance and emergency assistance coverage through Tulane Global. Sena Salcedo’s research was supported by his faculty advisor, Professor Eduardo Silva. Upon completing his fieldwork, he will present his findings at the Stone Center’s Summer Research Symposium in fall 2026. The department looks forward to following his progress as he advances this important work on the relationship between communal conflict, policy change, and regulatory development in Latin America.
Emeritus Spotlight
Raymond Taras has dedicated 40 years to Tulane University as a distinguished scholar of political science, with particular expertise in nationalism, xenophobia, ethnic conflict, and European and Russian politics. His intellectual contributions span continents and disciplines, earning him prestigious appointments including the Fulbright Distinguished Chair positions in Australia and Europe, and the Willy Brandt Professorship at Malmö University.
A true polyglot with proficiency in six languages and reading ability in three more, Professor Taras has brought exceptional global perspective to his teaching and research. His multilingual abilities have enriched his scholarship on cultural boundaries, nationalism, and transnational politics.
Professor Taras has taught over 25 different courses at Tulane, ranging from introductory politics to specialized graduate seminars on migration and global politics. His teaching has been recognized with the Mortar Board Award for Teaching Excellence. Beyond Tulane, he has shared his expertise at institutions worldwide, including the University of Warsaw, University of Sussex, University of Michigan, and Harvard University.
As the author or editor of 20 books and over 100 scholarly articles, Professor Taras has made lasting contributions to our understanding of post-communist transitions, nationalism, xenophobia, and international relations. His analytical framework on ethnic conflict, developed in multiple editions of Understanding Ethnic Conflict, has influenced a generation of scholars.
Recent & Forthcoming Publications and Awards
Dr. Ian Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group and distinguished Tulane alumnus (A&S ‘89), delivered the keynote address at the School of Liberal Arts 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 16th. The renowned political scientist and author, who brought the concept of political risk to financial markets and recently served as rapporteur for the UN’s AI advisory body, also received the school’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. Bremmer, who holds advanced degrees from Stanford and currently teaches at Columbia while serving as foreign affairs columnist for Time magazine, expressed confidence that Tulane’s Class of 2025 is prepared to tackle the global challenges ahead.
Nancy Maveety has been awarded the Tulane Graduate Studies Student Association (GSSA) award for 2025. This is the second year in a row that a Political Science faculty member has been honored with this award.
Brandon Davis, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and the Murphy Institute, has received a $50,000 Institute for Human Studies Faculty Fellowship. Davis’ research focuses on American and Race politics and normative and empirical approaches to institutions, representation, and criminal justice. This sabbatical funding goes towards his project, Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere: We Dare Defend Our Rights Strategic Legal Mobilization and the Alabama Democratic Conference.