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The Political Science Post: Meet Alumni Marc Nathanson

Ambassador Marc Nathanson’s career has spanned media, public service, and international diplomacy, shaped by a lifelong interest in communication and civic engagement. A former television executive and founder of Falcon Cable, Nathanson later served in leadership roles in international broadcasting before becoming United States Ambassador to Norway from 2022 to 2024. A UC Santa Barbara alumnus, his career reflects decades of work grounded in public dialogue, curiosity, and cross-cultural connectionactors.

The Political Science Post: Meet Professor Keum

Professor Tae-Yeoun Keum is a political theorist whose work re-examines the role of myth, symbolism, and narrative in political life. Her research bridges classical political thought and contemporary politics. Through her work on Plato and modern political theory, Keum challenges the idea that politics is purely rational, showing how imagination and storytelling continue to shape political identities, movements, and democratic governance.

The Political Science Post: Meet Graduate Student Annjulie Vester

Annjulie Vester is a PhD student in UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Political Science whose research connects international relations, political violence, and the political economy of conflict. Her dissertation investigates a rare but revealing phenomenon: why and how some rebel groups attempt to build their own monetary systems – issuing currencies, establishing parallel banking institutions, and challenging state monetary control.

The Political Science Post: Meet Undergraduate Student Maryn Hoffman

Maryn Hoffman is a third-year political science undergraduate whose academic and professional interests sit at the intersection of political communication, research, and public service. At UCSB, Hoffman combines research on political communication with leadership roles in student government and pre-law organizations Her work reflects a broader commitment to understanding how politics operates in everyday life – and how restorative justice practices  can  improve community outcomes.

CPEIR Speaker Series - Natalia Bueno, April 16

When: Thursday, April 16th

Where: Ellison Hall, Pritchett Room (3814)

Time: 11:00 - 12:00pm

Title of Talk:  Coordination Advantage: How Partisan Favoritism Persists Under Accountability Institutions

Colloquium - Michael Albertus, April 15

When: Wednesday, April 15th

Where: Ellison Hall, Lane Room (3824)

Time: 2:30-4:00pm

Title of Talk: Indigenous Welfare and Identity: Theory and Evidence from Chile's Indigenous Development Zones

PRIEC Conference - Friday, May 8th

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The Department of Political Science in collaboration with Migration Initiative, Asian American Studies, and Center for Black Studies Research at UC Sant

The Political Science Post: Meet Professor Saori Katada

Saori Katada is a leading scholar of international political economy whose work examines how global financial systems, trade, and state power shape regional development. Drawing from her own international life experiences – from Japan to the United States to Mexico – her research explores Japan’s role in global economic governance and broader dynamics of geoeconomics. Her work highlights how global rules are constructed, who benefits from them, and how economic power is exercised in an interconnected world.