CURRICULUM VITAE
MELISSA J. SCHEIER Department of Political Science
Georgetown College 400 East College Street Georgetown, KY 40324-1696
502 863 8329 (office) 502 295 9266 (cell)
EDUCATION
2003 Ph.D., Political Science, Texas A&M University.
Dissertation: “Constitutionalism and Democratic Legitimacy: How
Constitutional Expectations Affect Democratic Governance.” 1997 M.A., Political Science, San Diego State University.
1994 B.A., Politics, University of California, Santa Cruz.
TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS Discursive Democracy and the Public Realm Constitutionalism, Rights and Repression Social Movements
COURSES TAUGHT
Georgetown College Introduction to American Government (Traditional and On-Line) Introduction to Comparative Politics
Introduction to Developing Area
European Politics
Research Methods
Genocide
Politics of China
Politics of Latin America Caribbean Politics and Society
Politics and Film
Ancient Political Thought
Modern Political Thought
Social Conflict and Political Change Kentucky Institute of International Studies—Prague Program
Democratization
International Relations
European Politics
University of Houston Introduction to Comparative Politics (Traditional and On-Line) Developing Areas
Introduction to Political Theory Modern Political Thought
Ancient and Medieval Political Thought
Quantitative Methods
Honors American Government
San Diego State University Introduction to American and Californian Government Developmental Writing (Team-taught)
ACADEMIC AND RELATED POSITIONS 2005-current Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science Georgetown College
2002-2005 Director of Undergraduate Studies, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science University of Houston
1999-2002 Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Political Science University of Houston
1997-1999 Graduate Assistant, Political Science Texas A&M University
1996-1997 Researcher, Emerson Group La Jolla, CA.
1996 Lecturer, Political Science San Diego State University
1995-1996 Graduate/Research Assistant, Political Science SDSU
1995 Grader, Political Science SDSU
1994 Teaching Assistant, Department of Writing and Rhetoric SDSU
AWARDS
2008 Goode Faculty Development Grant 2007 Henlein Grant
2006 Henlein Grant
2005 Goode Faculty Development Grant
2003 Recognized Mentor, University of Houston Honor’s College 2001 Recognized Mentor, University of Houston Honor’s College 1998-1999 Texas Education Grant
1998 Study Abroad Fellowship 1997-1998 Regents Fellowship
HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society
Phi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society PUBLICATIONS
“MTL Piqueteros and the Communist Party in Argentina,” Latin American Perspectives (2007) 153:34:2 157-171 (with Isabella Alcaniz).
In Rethinking Latin American Social Movements: Resistance, Power, and Democracy in the Post Neoliberal Era, Richard Stahler-Stokes, ed. “Piqueteros and the Communist Party in Argentina,” Latin American Perspectives (2007) 153:34:2 157-171 (with Isabella Alcaniz).
“Lessons in Compromise—The New Jersey Constitutional Experience.” 2008. In The Constitutionalism of American States, eds. George Conner and Christopher Hammer, University of Missouri Press.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PROGRESS
“Constitutions in New Democracies—A Study on the Affects of Constitutional Implementation on Perceived Levels of Legitimacy.” (Accepted for presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2009, Chicago, IL).
“Arendt and Promising: Why Make the Leap of Faith.” (Accepted for presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2009, Chicago, IL).
“Public Expenditures and Local Autonomy in the Territories of the Caribbean.”(Accepted for presentation at the Latin American Studies Conference, June 2009 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
“Analyzing the Remains: Publication Rates of Political Theory Articles: A 66-Year Analysis.” With Stephen Mergner, Georgetown College, James Masterson, University of Cincinnati and Stephanie Walls, Mount Union College (This paper was presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Conference, 2008. We are in the process of collecting data for several more variables. We then plan to submit it for publication to PS: Political Science). PAPERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES
“Analyzing the Remains: 50 Years of Political Theory.” American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Boston, MA. August 27-23 2008.
“Separatist Movements in the Caribbean.” Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, Il. April 3-6 2008.
“Innovative Methods for Teaching Concepts.” Kentucky Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Berea, KY. February 29-March 1, 2008.
“Cuban Agricultural Decentralization, Local Governance and ‘Weak’ Social Networks” Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, Il. April 19-23 2007.
“Politics in Puerto Rico? The Administration of a U.S. Territory.” Kentucky Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Morehead, KY. March 2-4, 2007.
“Castro and Marti: Agrarian Reform in Cuba.” Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, Il. April 19-23 2006.
“New Social Movements with Old Party Politics: The MTL Piqueteros and the Communist Party in Argentina.” Co-authored with Isabella Alcaniz. Latin American Studies Association Meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico. March 14-19 2006.
“Legal Legacies: Interim Constitutions in Iraq and Afghanistan through the Eyes of Domestic Constitutional Participants. American Political Science Association Meeting, Washington D.C. September 1-4 2005.
“New Constitutional Considerations: The Role of Foreign Powers and International Organizations in the Drafting of Interim Constitutions. Should ‘Legal Imperialism’ be considered? (The Cases of Afghanistan and Iraq).” American Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois 2004.
“Does Inclusivity Really Increase Legitimacy in New Democracies? Constitutional Adoption in Eastern Europe.” Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois 2004. “Tensions between Constitutional Dissent and Rule of Law: The Politics of Repression in Cuba and Haiti.” Southern Political Science Association Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana 2004. “Political Behavior Without Civic Culture: An Assessment of Legitimacy.” Midwest Political Science Association Meeting. Chicago, Illinois, 2003
“Constitutional Dissent: Authoritarian Regimes and Constitutional Crisis.” Western Political Science Association Conference. Denver, Colorado, 2003.
“Institution Borrowing and Political Culture.” Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, Illinois, 2002.
Co-authored with Michael Wiley, “Round Pegs in Square Holes: Judicial Institutions in Eastern Europe.” South Western Social Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2002.
Co-authored with Michael Wiley, “Direct Judicial Access and Human Rights.” Western Social Science Association, Long Beach, California, 2002.
“Constitutionalism and Democracy in Eastern Europe.” Southwestern Social Science Association, Fort Worth, Texas, 2001.
“The Importance of Rights: The Connection between Constitutions and Democratic Stability.” American Political Science Association Conference, Washington DC, 2000.
“The Constitutional Process in Transition Countries: A Case Study of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.” Midwestern Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2000. “Arendt and Promising: Why Make the Leap of Faith?” Southwestern Political Science Association Conference, Galveston, Texas, 2000.
Co-authored with Guy Whitten and Alex Pacek. “Influence of Party Platforms, Personal Economic Viability and Objective Economic Indicators on Party Support in Eastern Europe.” American Political Science Association Conference, Atlanta Georgia, 1999.
Co-authored with Guy Whitten and Alex Pacek. “Individual-Level Variation in Economic Voting in Central Europe.” Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 1999 .
“Individualistic and Collective Trust—The Connection between Constitutions, Civil Society and Legitimacy.” Southern Political Science Association Conference, Atlanta Georgia, 1998.
“A Critique of an Environmental Ideology.” Crisis Carnival, San Diego, California, 1996.
COLLOQUIA/COURSES BY INVITATION ATTENDED “Liberty and the Founders’ Constitution.” Liberty Fund, July 2000.
European Consortium for Political and Social Research. Summer Methods Program, July 1998. GRANTS
Technology Curriculum Development Award. $2000 grant to develop a WebCT online course (Comparative Politics) for Distance Education, University of Houston.
Wrote annually funded grant for the Department of Political Science, San Diego State University, for a Graduate Internship Program and a Graduate Resource Center. Grant was awarded from the College of Liberal Arts. Grant covers two faculty course reductions per year, funds one full-time graduate student per year, and provides funding for supplies. Estimated annual amount of grant-$22,500.00.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Professional Associations Committee Work, Conference Organization, Journal Reviews and Grant Reviews:
2007 Steering Committee member for the American Political Science Association standing committee on Human Rights.
Member, Committee for Professional Development, Western Political Science Association
2006 Reviewer, Social Science Quarterly
Steering Committee member for the American Political Science Association standing committee on Human Rights.
Member, Committee for Professional Development, Western Political Science Association
2005 National Science Foundation Proposal Evaluator Editor, APSA Human Rights quarterly news letter
Steering Committee member for the American Political Science Association standing committee on Human Rights.
Member, Committee for Professional Development, Western Political Science Association
2004 Committee on Professional Development, Western Political Science Association Steering Committee member for the American Political Science Association standing committee on Human Rights.
Editor, APSA Human Rights quarterly news letter
2003 Reviewer, Journal of Politics and Law and Society Review.
Committee on Professional Development, Western Political Science Association 2002 Reviewer, Law and Society Review
2000 Organizer, Conference on Democracy, University of Houston Reviewer, Journal of Politics
1999 Organizer, Methodology Society Meeting, Texas A&M University
Contributions at Conferences:
Chair, Comparative Public Policy. Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, Il. April 19-23 2008.
Discussant, Institutional Change in Latin America. Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, Il. April 3-6, 2007.
Chair, Policy Agendas and Adoption. Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, Il. April 3-6, 2007.
Discussant, Women and the Welfare State. Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, Il. April 19-23 2006.
Discussant, Comparative Politics. Kentucky Political Science Association. Richmond, Kentucky. March 3-4 2006.
Discussant, Religion and Culture. Midwest Political Science Association Meeting. Chicago, Illinois, 2003.
Chair/Discussant, Applied Methods in Comparative Politics. Western Political Science Association Conference. Denver, Colorado, 2003.
Chair/Discussant, Getting Out the Vote: Sophistication, Cleavages and Class. Southern Political Science Association. Savannah, Georgia, 2002.
Chair, Hierarchy and Judicial Outcomes. South Western Social Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2002.
Panel Chair, Political Parties: A New Perspective. Western Social Science Association, Long Beach, California, 2002.
Panel Chair, “Voting and Parties.” Southwestern Social Science Association, Fort Worth, Texas, 2001.
Panel Chair, “Justice and Rights in New Democracies.” Midwestern Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2000.
DEPARTMENTAL AND COLLEGE SERVICE 2008-2009 DISC Committee—Quantitative Reasoning
Honor’s Committee
Faculty Representative, Truman Scholarship
Faculty Director, Pi Sigma Alpha, Omega Lambda Chapter Faculty Director, Political Science Group
2007-2008 GERC Committee—Core, Secretary
Search Committee, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Culture Admissions Committee Secretary
Faculty Representative, Truman Scholarship
Faculty Director, Pi Sigma Alpha, Omega Lambda Chapter Faculty Director, Political Science Group
2006-2007 Wrote proposal for Fulbright Grant to host a Visiting Scholar from the “Direct Access to the Muslim World” Program.
Hiring Committee, Department of Political Science Standard 6 Ad Hoc Committee, Department of Education Admissions Committee Secretary
Faculty Director, Pi Sigma Alpha, Omega Lambda Chapter Faculty Director, Political Science Group
2005-2006 Faculty Director, Pi Sigma Alpha, Omega Lambda Chapter Faculty Director, Political Science Group
Hiring Committee, Department of Political Science
2004-2005 Director of Undergraduate Studies for Department of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Committee on Undergraduate Studies Faculty Director, Pi Sigma Alpha, Rho Zeta Chapter
Committee on Professional Development, Western Political Science Association Moderator, University of Houston College Bowl
2003-2004 Director of Undergraduate Studies for Department of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Committee on Undergraduate Studies College of Education Undergraduate Studies Committee, Outside Member
Faculty Panel Participant, University Orientation for New Students Faculty Director, Pi Sigma Alpha, Rho Zeta Chapter
2002-2003 Director of Undergraduate Studies for Department of Political Science,
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Committee on Undergraduate Studies Department Committee of Undergraduate Studies
Curriculum development of Political Science courses for business majors University Curriculum Development for a University 101 course
1999-2000 Political Theory Recruitment Committee, Texas A&M University 1995-1996 Student Adjunct to the Graduate Committee, SDSU
Vice-President, Political Science Graduate Student Assoc., SDSU Political Science Graduate Student Survey Coordinator, SDSU. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Political Science Association Midwest Political Science Association Kentucky Political Science Association
COMMUNITY OFFICES
Midway Women’s Club 2nd Vice-President
Commissioner, Woodford County Commission on Human Rights Board of Directors, Kentucky Innocence Project
REFERENCES
Guy Whitten, Department of Political Science, Texas A&M University (979) 845-0385 Kenneth Meier, Department of Political Science, Texas A&M University (979) 845-4232 Jon Dalager, Department of Political Science, Georgetown College (502) 863-8073
