UMM | Political Science Discipline

For more information on the Political Science discipline, contact Professor Gregory Thorson, Discipline Coordinator.
(320) 589-6208
Office: West Annex #1
gthorson@morris.umn.edu

E-mail page maintainer, Rebecca Webb

E-mail site master, Prof. Seung-Ho Joo

Meet the Political Science Faculty!

Sheryl D. Breen
Office: 210 Imholte Hall
Office Phone: 589-6206
breens@morris.umn.edu

Sheri Breen teaches courses in the history of political thought, environmental political theory, political ethics and international political theory. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Minnesota and enjoyed an earlier career as a political journalist and newspaper editor. Her research focuses on an ecological reformulation of property theory, sustainable agriculture and stewardship.

D. Christopher Brooks
Office: 208 Imholte Hall
Office Phone: 589-6220
dcbrooks@morris.umn.edu

D. Christopher Brooks earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University. Previous to his work at UMM, Professor Brooks taught at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and St. Olaf College. He has taught a broad range of courses in Comparative Politics including East-Central European Politics, West European Politics, Balkan Politics, Transitions to Democracy, Social Movements, Ethnic Conflict, and a study abroad course, Post-Communist Democracy in the Czech Republic. He has published original research in East European Quarterly, the Journal of Political Science Education, and Social Science Quarterly. His current research examines the impact of democratic transitions and economic development on women's rights.

Seung-Ho Joo
Office: 209 Imholte Hall
Office Phone: 589-6203
joos@morris.umn.edu

Seung-Ho Joo, Associate Professor of Political Science, received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University. Since he joined the UMM in 1994, he has taught a wide range of courses in the international relations field, including World Politics, International Relations Theory, US Foreign Policy, and Russian Foreign Policy. His research interest areas include Russo-Korean relations, Korean foreign relations, and international relations of Northeast Asia. Dr. Joo authored Gorbachev's Foreign Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula, 1985-1991 (2000) and co-edited four books, including North Korea's Second Nuclear Crisis and Northeast Asian Security (2007). He has published over 45 book chapters and journal articles. He is Associate Editor for North America of the journal, Pacific Focus, and was a Korea Foundation Research Fellow (2005) and President of the Association of Korean Political Studies (2003-05).

Paula O'Loughlin
Office: 211 Imholte Hall
Office Phone: 589-6205
oloughpl@morris.umn.edu

I am known at UMM for my keen fashion sense and as Supreme Allied Commander. Since second grade, my not so secret ambitions have been world domination, UMM political science and the New York Yankees. In my free time, I enjoy biking, visiting obscure historic sites throughout the world, and mesmerizing people with my encyclopedic knowledge of sports and political minutiae.

Gregory Thorson
Office: 207 Imholte Hall
Office Phone: 589-6208
gthorson@morris.umn.edu

Greg Thorson, Asssociate Professor of Political Science, received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Riverside in 1995. He teaches a wide variety of courses focusing on American political institutions, including Legislative Process, The Presidency, Judicial Politics, Political Analysis, and Constitutional Law. Professor Thorson's research is concentrated on both the study of Congress as well as rural politics.