ASPECT Students
Samuel Beckenhauer
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Critical Theory, Critical Security Studies, Postcolonial Theory, Philosophy of Science, Militarization and U.S. Foreign Policy
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., International Politics, Aberystywth University, 2019
B.A., Political Science, Vassar College, 2018
Alexandra Briggs
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Race and Ethnicity, Environmental Justice, Discourse Analysis, Feminist Political Theory, Aesthetics and Radical Politics.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT,Virginia Tech
MA: Political and Civic Engagement, Winthrop University, 2016
BA: Political Science, Winthrop University, 2013
Casey Anne Brimmer
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Queer Theory, Feminist Theory
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Women's and Gender Studies, University of Northern Iowa, 2017
B.A., Ethnic and Gender Studies, Westfield State University, 2014
Jerry Burkette
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Ethical Theory (Metaethical Theory and Applied Ethical Theory); Interactions of Ethical Theory with Political and Cultural Contexts.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT,Virginia Tech
MA: Philosophy, Virginia Tech
MA: International Relations, Salve Regina University, 2008
BS: Education, Missouri State University, 1991
BS: Music, Missouri State University, 1991
Reed Byg
PH.D IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Political economy, political ecology, critical security studies, food systems, environmental ethics.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2020
B.A., Sociology / Philosophy, Green Mountain College, 2016
Ana María Camargo Palomino
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Environmental Politics, Environmental Justice, Postcolonial Theory and Latinx Studies.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A. Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2019
B.A. International Relations, Universidad del Norte, 2012
Linea Cutter
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International political economy, food systems theory, feminist theory, feminist geopolitics, and critical theory.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A. Political Science, Florida International University, 2018
B.A. History and Political Science, Nova Southeastern University, 2015
Jordan Fallon
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Black Feminism, Politics of Work, Critical Race Theory, Post Structuralism
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A. Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2019
B.A. Philosophy / Sociology, Roanoke College, 2014
Rob Flahive
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Relations, Global History, History and Theory of Modernist Architecture, Urbanism, Preservation, and Planning
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Political Studies, American University of Beirut, 2013
BA: English Literature, Washington University in St. Louis, 2003
Hannah Glasson
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Ecological Philosophy, Philosophy of Economics, Systems Theory, Post-Structuralism, and Philosophical Posthumanism
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Philosophy of Religion, University of Chicago, 2014
BA: Comparative Study of Religion, Harvard University, 2010
Julie Harvey
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Corporate Militarization and British Empire 1533-1813, Evolution of British National Identity, Devolution of Western Europe, Post Colonial Theory, Cultural and Historical Contexts of Brexit, Expansion and Contraction of Geographic and Tribal Boundaries within Great Britain
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A.L.A., Intercultural Relations, San Diego State University, 1998
B.A., History, Art History, Miami University, 1991
Robert Hodges
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Security, Violent Non-state Actors, Culture and Belief Systems, International Order, International Society/System, IR Theory, and International Law
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2017
BA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2016
June Ann Jones
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Political theory, environmental politics, agrarian studies
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Vanderbilt University, 2018
B.A. Government and Psychology, University of Maryland, 2014
Luther Lee McPherson IV
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Security, Late-Modern Political Theory, Nietzsche, Ontology of State Power, Epistemology in International Relations
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MSc., International & European Politics, The University of Edinburgh, 2018
B.A., Political Science, California Lutheran University, 2017
Sarah Plummer
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
journalism ethics, citizen journalism, Appalachia, mass media, coal culture.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: English Literature, Virginia Tech, 2010
BA: Theatre Arts, Berea College, 2005
Leah Ramnath
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Critical theory, cynicism, governmentality, biopolitics, sociospatial analysis.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Social Science - Environment and Community, Humboldt State University, 2019
B.S., Environmental Science, Florida International University, 2016
Shaun Respess
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Humanities, Old Dominion University, 2017
BA: Philosophy, Old Dominion University, 2015
Patrick Salmons
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Race, pop culture and media, Appalachian culture, global political economy, cultural politics.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2017
BA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2015
Trevor Jeyaraj Samraj
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Postcolonial Theories, Decolonial Theories, Theologies of Liberation, Political Theologies, Caste and Religion, Violence and Subaltern Identity, Affect Theories.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA., Theological Studies, Columbia Theological Seminary, 2019
M.Phil., English, University of Delhi, 2015
M.A., English Literature, St. Xavier’s College, 2013
BBA., Scott Christian College, 2010
Muhammed Shah Shajahan
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Philosophical Anthropology, Anthropology of Islam, South Asian Histories of Caste, Religion and Nationalism, Space and Subjectivity, Contemporary Urban Theories, Political Theology
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M. Phil.: Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad, 2018
MA: Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad, 2016
BA: Mass Communication, University of Calicut, 2013
Kathryn Shepard
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Art theory, philosophy of (visual) language, metaphysics of identity, ethics of cultural geography, environmental ethics.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Philosophy, Virginia Tech, 2016
BA: Philosophy, Virginia Tech, 2014
BA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2014
BFA: Fine Arts, Virginia Tech, 2014
Faith Skiles
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Cross-Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Feminist theories of Space/Place, Korean and East Asian History, American Religious History
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: History, Virginia Tech, 2016
BA: History, Mary Baldwin College, 2004
Spenser Slough
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Pre-industrial Appalachian history and culture, folklore, material culture, post-colonialism, cultural heritage discourse and preservation, public history and memory.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA, Material Culture and Public Humanities, Virginia Tech, 2017
MA, History and Graduate Certificate, Public History, Virginia Tech, 2015
BA, History, College of William and Mary, 2012
Aline de Souza
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
art, sound art, visual arts and music, critical social theory, aesthetic education
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.F.A., Creative Technologies, Virginia Tech, 2020
M.L.A., Landscape Architecture, Virginia Tech, 2018
B.Arch., Architecture and Urbanism, University of Brasília, 2011
Julie Walters Steele
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Public History, Slavery and US Plantation Narratives, Race and Gender Studies, Social Justice Activism.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., English, Clemson University, 1993
B.A., English, Clemson University, 1985
Madison Tepper
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Socioeconomic inequality, globalization, Marxist theory, feminist and queer theory, comparative politics, postcolonial theory, rhetoric and discourse analysis
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2018
B.A., International Studies and Political Science, Salisbury University, 2015
Molly Todd
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Immigration, border security industrial complex, biopolitics
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA, Social Science-International Studies, University of Colorado at Denver, 2018
BA, International Studies-Globalization, Humboldt State University, 2012
BA, Spanish Education, Humboldt State University, 2012
Sara Wenger
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
political theory, posthumanism, critical race theory, disability studies, cyberpunk, science fiction and climate fiction
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Women's Studies, The University of Alabama, 2018
B.A., Political Science, Miami University, 2016
B.A., Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Miami University, 2016
Zachariah Wheeler
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Political Theory, Culture and Ideology
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Cinema Studies, New York University, 2017
B.A., English, Salisbury University, 2015
Sengul Yildiz Alanbay
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Relations Theories, Critical Theory, Security Studies, Discourse Analysis, European Integration, European Union
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.S., International Relations, Middle East Technical University, 2016
B.S., International Relations, Middle East Technical University, 2013