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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦

@lauradean.bsky.social
927 followers 366 following 597 posts

Associate Professor of Government & International Affairs and Director of the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Augustana University (she/her) 🇱🇻🇺🇦

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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Posted my gender analysis of the Latvian Saeima elections on Facebook. This election result with 38% women's representation moves Latvia up to 36th place in the world for its level of women's representation (tied with Mozambique) but it is one of the few high ranking countries with no gender quotas!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Had a meet and greet tonight for the Critical Language Scholarship 2026 International Alumni Seminar: Super Intelligence in Action. We will be traveling to......Rīga, Latvia and I will really try to not be that super annoying person who knows everything about Latvia! 🇱🇻
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This month we have been working on getting the new lab space ready and formulating a draft of our #HumanTrafficking recruitment during war article in Ukraine. Here are the latest updates from the Human Trafficking Research Lab: humantraffickingresearchlab.org
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Sioux Falls Development Foundation did a story on Matthew Flaten and I moving to South Dakota "From college sweethearts to college professionals, couple moves across Midwest for new S.D. roles." pigeon605.com/from-college...
pigeon605.com
From college sweethearts to college professionals, couple moves across Midwest for new S.D. roles
They met in college, worked together at a college and now are building a new life in Sioux Falls after landing roles at different colleges.
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The Sioux Falls Stampede played a preseason game at Augustana University's Midco Arena tonight! The Stampede play in the United States Hockey League, the top junior ice hockey league in the US. We have two Latvians on the team so I wore the only hockey jersey I own to the game tonight! 🇱🇻
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Some updates on our work in the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Augustana University with a post from my research assistant, a forthcoming book chapter, and submitting a revise and resubmit. It's been a busy August! www.humantraffickingresearchlab.org?m=1
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Estonia just elected their 2nd woman to the presidency in the country's history! As I always say the Baltic States are the best countries to study gender and politics because there are just so many different women leaders in the executive and legislative branches! 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹 www.reuters.com/world/estoni...
reuters.com
Estonia elects human rights ombudsman Madise as its next president
Estonia's parliament elected constitutional lawyer Ulle Madise as the ​Baltic country's next president on ‌Wednesday, making her the second woman to hold the largely ceremonial post.
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
I am from MN and study Latvia so winter doesn't scare me....just gotta dig out my cross country skis for the snowy days ;)
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Requisite first day of school photo! 13th year as a professor, 7th as an associate professor, and my first year at Augustana University. I live six blocks from campus now so the walk is a little bit longer in Sioux Falls but it's nice to live close to campus!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
New Faculty Orientation, Opening Meeting, and Convocation at Augustana University.....the new academic year begins today! My office is mostly unpacked, syllabi are done, and I am excited for my first day of teaching and meeting my students tomorrow!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Last week I met Augustana University's president former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. As a scholar of gender and politics it is pretty cool that my new boss was the first elected Congresswoman and the first woman to serve in the US House of Representatives from South Dakota!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Yes! That's cool. I really like Sioux Falls....I also have seen a ton of people wearing Jayhawk merch which is fun!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The Human Trafficking Research Lab has a new logo and new university home Augustana University! Looking forward to learning more about state laws and conducting research with undergraduate students on #HumanTrafficking in South Dakota. www.humantraffickingresearchlab.org/2026/08/the-...
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Love that! The main street in Sioux Falls is Minnesota Ave so with that and everyone's Minnesota-like accents I feel very at home here. Also fun fact I get to meet Terilyn's high school bestie next week at orientation since she also works at Augustana...small world!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Terilyn and I always text each other when we have Caribou Coffee but I told her I had to stop after my move because she would be getting mutiple photos a week from me now that I have one a mile from my house! I still always think of her and our shared love of MN whenever I drink it!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Youthful memories of being a poor grad student with large blocks of time to write! Those were the days....
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
#AcWri at a local coffee shop in Sioux Falls! It's fun to move to a town with numerous local coffee shops and Caribou Coffee if I get sick of those. Working on a second round of revisions for our adjudication article today and trying to resubmit before the semester begins!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
They are helpful and the research suggests that increased awareness leads to increased identification. Sometimes weird racial profiling stories have occurred though so with all things there are problems with implementation!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Starting a new chapter in my academic journey as an Associate Professor of Government & International Affairs at Augustana University! Thankful to be closer to my family at a highly respected institution in Sioux Falls, SD with colleagues and a provost and president in my discipline!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I will tell him you said that ;)
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Definitely! Though I am not sure Matt is ready to be this close to my family.....my sister is coming on Friday for the weekend with her kids! It's going to be a loud Dean sister weekend in SD!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Last week! I got a job at Augustana University in Sioux Falls.....only 20 miles from MN and 4 hours from my family! Haven't officially announced it yet since I am still trying to get my lab money from Millikin which has been a struggle to say the least!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
It was like the first day after my move to SD and I was surprised.....it never happened in 10 years in IL!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Linda posted it on Facebook and I thought you would want to know. I forgot he was from Wisconsin. I got rock chalked coming out of my car (with a KU bumper sticker) at a bagel place in SD so Jayhawks are everywhere!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
@thelasttheorist.bsky.social not sure if you saw this news that Professor Paul Schumaker passed away. He lived a pretty amazing life! www.warrenmcelwain.com/obituaries/p...
warrenmcelwain.com
Paul Schumaker Obituary Jul 23, 2026 - Warren-McElwain Mortuary & Cremation Services
View Paul Schumaker's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Protams! Esmu tik priecīga, ka viņai bija laiks uzzīmēt manas grāmatas vāka noformējumu!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
July 30 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Sharing some updates from the Human Trafficking Research Lab and our work over the summer reflecting on my time in Central Illinois! www.humantraffickingresearchlab.org/2026/07/sayi...
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Thanks! I am so fortunate that I could get an amazing Latvian artist to take my cover art idea and make it a reality!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Beidzot! Liels paldies!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
My book Gendering the Saeima: The Politics of Women's Representation in #Latvia was approved for publication in spring 2027 by the Indiana University Press board! Here is the cover art by 🇱🇻 artist Elīna Brasliņa which is a lovely representation of the research in the book.
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
My last #AcWri Saturday at my local coffee shop in Decatur today! I submitted my book manuscript Gendering the Saeima: The Politics of Women's Representation in Latvia for production and copy editing. So glad to get through another stage of the long book writing process! 🇱🇻 📚
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Visited Champaign one last time for #AcWri with a friend and working on book formatting. I will miss all of the talks and colleagues at the Ukrainian Studies program and libraries at the University of Illinois. After the Russian invasion, I found solidarity and hope in these spaces! 🇺🇦 ❤️
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
We are selling our Decatur house so Scarlett and I leave the house for the showings. We go to our local coffee shop and I get an iced coffee while she gets a pup cup. Then we go take a walk in the park but I think Scarlett is just jazzed to ride in the car and bark at things! 🐕🦴 ☕
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I do it with undergrads and give them a worksheet.....we hypothesize a research question and then go to the campus coffee shop. We debrief afterwards and it's always really interesting to compare the different observations from each student.
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
No one ever tells you how hard it is to go from this.....to this! My #AcWri coffee views are not as exciting as they were last week but at least I am still working on my book Gendering the Saeima with Latvian interviews so I get to continue using my 🇱🇻 skills even back in the US!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Sadly my summer in Latvia has come to an end. I studied abroad here at 19 and I just keep coming back (now I even bring my students). I am always thankful to be able to spend so many summers with my host family and friends in a place which at this point feels like my 2nd home! 🇱🇻
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
One of the last things I did in Latvia was visit the Dziesmusvētku telpa/Song festival space and view the Song and Dance festival exposition in Mežaparks. The GPS coordinates were wrong & they should have just said it was in the Lielā estrāde but it was an interesting exhibit! 🇱🇻
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Was able to catch the opening and closing ceremonies of the 20th Baltic Student Song and Dance Festival “Gaudeamus” in Rīga last weekend. The festival brought together 4,000 students from 🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪 and I never knew there was a student song that everyone stands to sing!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Thankful for a few extra days in Latvia to celebrate the midsummer festival! Saw Skroderdienas Silmačos, went to the Zāļu tirgus, and heard the Suitu sievas sing at Kalnciema kvartāls. Līgo Līgo 🌿 🇱🇻
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
At Newcastle University this week for the European Conference on Politics and Gender 2026 and the campus is lovely..... incidentally right across the street from the stadium for Newcastle United football club! #ECPG
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Visited the newly renovated Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music's exhibit Procrastination and Creation. I enjoyed seeing what they displayed for all my favorite writers Aspazija, Nora Ikstena, Vizma Belševica. It was also fun to learn new facts about 🇱🇻 poets & composers!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
That's a wrap on our Baltic Immersion 2026! The students arrived home from our 20 day trip across 🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪🇫🇮🇩🇰 with 1,324 miles 7 buses, 4 trains, and 2 boats. We ended the trip with a premiere of La Bohème at the Latvian National Opera and spotted President Edgars Rinkēvičs!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
We hiked to the highest point on the Curonian Spit on the Parnidis dune outside of Nida, Lithuania to see a sand border with Russia (the dark area past the trees). It was raining and there were tons of mosquitoes but it was so interesting to see this border for the first time. 🇱🇹
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
We began our time in Vilnius with two different festivals! One was the pink soup festival celebrating Lithuania's most famous cold beet soup šaltiborščiai. The next was the folk festival Skamba skamba kankliai where my students finally achieved their Baltic choir concert goal! 🇱🇹
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
It was a pretty amazing opportunity to be able to learn from some of the people who actually formulate Latvian foreign policy! #BalticImmersion
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
We spent the morning at the 🇱🇻 Foreign Ministry learning about Latvia's foreign policy goals. We even got to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Most of these Millikin students will represent Latvia at the American Model United Nations Conference.
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Some updates to the Human Trafficking Research Lab blog today with posts on the first Illinois Statewide Human Trafficking Conference in Peoria and my last CIHTTF meeting. Check out our work here: www.humantraffickingresearchlab.org
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
but the workload of carrying and advising an entire major as the only faculty member teaching 10-12 classes a year was just not sustainable in the long run. I am thankful for my time in Central Illinois and will miss everyone dearly!
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
After 10 years at Millikin University and earning the rank of full professor (the 1st woman political scientist in school history to earn that title) I am resigning from my position at the end of this academic year. I loved my political science students and colleagues
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Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦 @lauradean.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Coffee views Peoria Illinois edition at CxT Roasting Company! Probably one of the best lattes I have had in a long time and I drink a lot of coffee.... ☕
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