Academics
Political Science Faculty
Jeffrey M. Ayres
Department Chair
Professor of Political Science
B.A. University of Virginia; M.A., Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison
View Dr. Ayres' Curriculum Vitae
Courses Taught: Introduction to International Relations; Politics of the World Economy; Global Governance; Global Problems; American Foreign Policy; Social Movements and Contentious Politics
Areas of Expertise: International Relations; Global Governance and Globalization; Social Movements and Contentious Politics; Canadian and North American Politics
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Ayres co-edited the forthcoming book, Contentious Politics in North America: National Protest and Transnational Collaboration Under Continental Integration (Palgrave Macmillan) and co-authored the article "Divergent Campaigns towards Global Health Governance: Canadian and U.S. approaches to the Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic," with Patricia Siplon (Canadian-American Public Policy, January 2007) and "Deep Integration and Shallow Governance: the Limits to Civil Society Engagement Across North America," with Laura Macdonald (Policy and Society, 2007).
On Teaching and Research: Dr. Ayres' research interests continue to filter into and enhance his teaching. His research and publication in such areas as global governance, globalization and transnational politics, and social movements and contentious politics, have shaped the organization (and sometimes the assignments) in such courses as Politics of the World Economy, Global Governance and Global Problems and Social Movements and Contentious Politics. At the same time, he has been able to experiment in class with some of his research ideas and theories and frequently flesh out new areas for future inquiry in the field.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Ayres' hobbies include: skiing; biking; surf-fishing on the beaches of North Carolina; reading widely; gardening; trying to support his perennially disappointing Virginia Cavaliers football and basketball teams; and listening to the Grateful Dead played loud.
Learn more about Dr. Ayres in his faculty spotlight.
Listen to Dr. Ayres' recent Vermont Public Radio commentaries on the 2008 Canadian general election: September Interview | October Interview | December Interview
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 347
Phone: 802.654.2680
Box 362
E-mail: jayres@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/jayres/
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William F. Grover
Professor of Political Science
B.A. Moravian College; Ph.D. University of Massachusetts
Dr. Grover's areas of expertise are in American politics, national political institutions, political economy and foreign policy.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 344
Phone: 802.654.2463
Box 214
E-mail: wgrover@smcvt.edu
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John C. Hughes
Professor of Political Science
B.A. William Paterson College of New Jersey; M.A., Ph.D. New School for Social Research
Courses Taught: American Constitutional Law; American National Politics; Civil Liberties; Criminal Justice; Senior Seminar: War on Terrorism, Capital Punishment
Areas of Expertise: American Constitutionalism, criminal justice, international terrorism
Outside of Saint Michael's: Dr. Hughes enjoys photography and music, particularly jazz, contemporary classical - the more experimental the better.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 346
Phone: 802.654.2245
Box 164
E-mail: jhughes@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/jhughes/
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Patricia D. Siplon
Professor of Political Science
B.S., M.S. Utah State University; Ph.D. Brandeis University
View Dr. Siplon's Curriculum Vitae
Courses Taught: Introduction to American National Politics; Research Methods; Global Politics of the AIDS Pandemic; First Year Seminar: Global Studies; Intro to Public Policy; HIV/AIDS in East Africa; Parties, Elections and Political Participation; Senior Seminar: African Politics; US Health Policy
Areas of Expertise: HIV/AIDS; health policy in developing countries; U.S. domestic and international health policy and foreign aid policy; sub-Saharan Africa (particularly Tanzania)
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Siplon is co-author of, The Global Politics of AIDS (Lynne Rienner Publishers, February 2007). She is also co-author of, Drugs into Bodies: Global AIDS Treatment Activism (Praeger, 2006).
On Teaching and Research: Dr. Siplon does research on HIV/AIDS, particularly in East Africa. In recent years, she has had six opportunities to take students or alumni with her to East Africa or other developing countries to do research and/or service work. Her students benefit from the real-life examples Dr. Siplon brings in to classes on research methods and American government, especially foreign policy and its impacts. Dr. Siplon's academic background is also enhanced by her involvement with two national AIDS advocacy organizations: Health GAP, based in New York City, and Global Justice, based in Washington, DC. She serves on the board of directors for both organizations, and is the board's co-chair for Global Justice.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Siplon enjoys international travel, ice skating and hiking.
Learn more about Dr. Siplon in her faculty spotlight.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 327
Phone: 802.654.2766
Box 372
E-mail: psiplon@smcvt.edu
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Kristin Novotny
Associate Professor of Political Science
B.A. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; M.A., Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dr. Novotny researches the history of political thought, citizenship and political protest, gender and women’s studies.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 351
Phone: 802.654.2290
Box 276
E-mail: knovotny@smcvt.edu
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Michael J. Bosia
Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A. California State University; M.A., Ph.D. Northwestern University
Courses Taught: Introduction to Comparative Politics; State Violence and Justice; Film and Politics; France and Empire; Democratic Transitions; the Politics of Multiethnic Societies
Areas of Expertise: The nexus of transnational social movements and the nation-state; race, gender, sexuality, marginalization, and citizenship; the politics of food; democratic practice, postcolonial politics, and economic and political reform; political accountability; ethics, culture, and narrative in social action.
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Bosia authored articles on French politics, globalization, and HIV/AIDS published in French Politics, Culture & Society in Spring 2009, and recently in Perspectives on Politics and New Political Science. His work also is published in The Global Politics of AIDS (co-edited by Patricia Siplon) and Engaged Observer, and he has organized panels at the American Political Science Association and International Studies Association annual meetings. He is currently working on a manuscript, Days of Rage: Marginalization, AIDS, and the Politics of Citizenship.
On Teaching and Research: For Dr. Bosia, political engagement, teaching, and research are interconnected. Before starting doctoral studies, he was a staff director in the California State Senate working with communities affected by HIV/AIDS, which drove his interest in marginalization, social movements, and the state. His research is contemporary and historical, so he works as a participant-observer during field work with activist organizations and spends significant amounts of time in archives examining documents and historical records. At Saint Michael's, he has worked with faculty, staff, and students to mark World AIDS Day and the anniversary of the war in Iraq. Staying focused on the ethics of political action keeps him grounded in events, and working with students helps him evaluate his research, assess his writing, and share his interests in a critical way with students as they develop their own sense of ethics and knowledge.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Bosia is a co-owner of Claire's Restaurant and Bar, which is part of a larger effort in Hardwick, Vermont, to reinforce the local rural economy and bring a sense of sovereignty and control over what we eat.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 349
E-mail: mbosia@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/mbosia/index.htm
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Moise St. Louis
Adjunct Professor of Political Science
Director of Multicultural Student Affairs
Mr. St. Louis teaches courses in comparative politics, including Democratic Transitions and Comparative Politics in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Campus Office
Alliot Hall, second floor
Phone: 802.654.2663
Box 267
E-mail: mstlouis@smcvt.edu