iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

🏡 Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia 🏛️ Undergrad Institution/Major: Virginia Tech 📚 Research Interests: legislative procedures and judicial interference 🏋️‍♀️🍝 Hobbies: I enjoy weight lifting, reading, and cooking fine cuisine.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

He hopes to write his thesis on legislative procedures and judicial interference. Nick's dream job My dream job is to be a policy analyst in a position where he can make the world a better place. 🌍🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Up next is Nick Johnson!🎉 Nick was drawn to Virginia Tech because he wanted to continue his education in Political Science and Virginia Tech was now his second home, so he felt he had to apply here!📚🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

🏡 Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia 🏛️ Undergrad Institution/Major: Hollins University 📚 Research Interests: security studies, my research in the past has led me to the Middle East and North Africa region 📖 🍞 Hobbies: I love reading for fun, needlepointing, drawing, and baking.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Corabeth hopes to use her experience and degree to one day become a Foreign Service Officer in the Department of State.🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

She is currently exploring the area of security studies, her research in the past has led her to the Middle East and North Africa region which is where she hopes to continue growing as a researcher and academic.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Meet Corabeth Pierce! The first of our 7 first year M.A. students we are highlighting!🎉 Corabeth was drawn to the freedom the program provided for her research and thesis writing. This enables her to specialize in her chosen field of interest.📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

🏫 Undergrad: Moscow State Linguistic University; Alma College, MI 📚 Research Interests: Online propaganda of armed groups in the Middle East and the incorporation of generative AI 🧵✈️ Hobbies: Dancing, learning languages, traveling, doing something crafty

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

After looking into the program, she was really excited about the curriculum and the professors’ research interests. 🧡 🏡Hometown/Calls Home: Russia, Moscow Region, the city of Elektrostal

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

She was was drawn to the department by one of her undergraduate professors who got his master’s degree in political science at VT and had a very high opinion of the program.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Our final second year M.A. student highlight is Yasmina Idris! 🎉 Yasmina's research focuses on online propaganda of armed groups in the Middle East and the incorporation of generative AI.📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We are delighted to welcome Faith to our department! 🎉

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Her current research examines how political elites and parties shape public attitudes toward immigration across different political contexts, including sub-Saharan Africa. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science and Social Data Analytics from Penn State University.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Originally from Zimbabwe, she is particularly interested in understanding the political and institutional factors that shape development outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa, including corruption, governance institutions, ethnic and identity politics, and political leadership. 📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

She is a comparativist specializing in African politics, with research interests in political development, governance, ethnic politics and identity, political parties, public opinion, and migration.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Faith Khumalo as an Instructor in the Department of Political Science this semester! 👏

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🏡Hometown/Calls Home: Fayetteville, North Carolina 🏫 Undergrad: Virginia Tech 📚 Research Interests: Quantitative Approaches to Social Movement Studies, Tax Law, and International Political Economy 🏛️ Hobbies: Organize at the grassroots level, building up systems and processes

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

He hopes to use his degree to become a tax law scholar and practitioner, supporting legislation the benefits marginalized communities, in particular, LGBTQ+ communities. 🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

In particular he was drawn to professors in the Political Science department who are able to blend their legal education and their scholarship on politics so seamlessly.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

He was was drawn to the department by the incredible scholarship produced by world renowned scholars in the field of Politics, Public Policy, and International Relations.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Our next M.A. student highlight is Tristan Reeves!🎉 Tristan's research focuses on quantitative approaches to social movement studies, tax law, and international political economy. 📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🏡Hometown/Calls Home: Hillsboro, VA 🏫 Undergrad: Virginia Tech 📚 Research Interests: Migrations and borders in South Asia 🏈 Hobbies: Watch sports and helping out the VT Football team with recruiting

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The prospects of being able to continue to work with them persuaded him to earn his M.A. and achieve his dream of working in the Department of State or CIA as a policy/region expert. 🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Our next M.A. student highlight is Ethan Miller!🎉 Ethan's research focuses on Migrations and borders in South Asia. 📚 He was was drawn to the wonderful professors in the department and the interactions he had with them in classes during his undergraduate degree.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🏡Hometown/Calls Home: Fletcher, NC 🏫 Undergrad: Appalachian State University 📚 Research Interests: Political Theory and environmental political thought 🎸⚡️Hobbies: Get in nature, play guitar, and read

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

He was was drawn to the wonderful professors in the department and the rigorous atmosphere former students attested to.🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This feeds into his main argument that Trump and MAGA allies have used environmental crises/catastrophes as a rallying call for a new polity formation based on nonsense.📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Next up: Jackson Futch! 🎉 Jackson's research focuses on Political Theory, particularly the intersection of theories of subjectivization and environmental political thought. His first chapter is on the way in which Trump and MAGA utilized Hurricane Helene in the 2024 election cycle.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🏡Hometown/Calls Home: Raleigh, North Carolina 🏫 Undergrad: Virginia Tech 📚 Research Interests: Chinese foreign policy and statecraft 🏋️‍♀️Hobbies: Working out and reading 📝⚾️ Dream Job: Writer at FanGraphs

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

He was was drawn to the master’s program because of his undergrad work with Dr. Aaron Brantly and the opportunity the master's program provided him.🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Next up: Ethan Dettman!🎉 Ethan's research focuses on Chinese foreign policy and statecraft, particularly how Chinese technology transfers impact democratic processes in recipient states.📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

🏡Hometown: Christiansburg, Virginia 🏫 Undergrad: Virginia Tech 📚 Research Interests: Intersection of legal policy, national security, and the ways in which law shapes national security policy 🥾Hobbies: For fun I like to read books, go on hikes, and exploring new places.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

After she finishes her studies, Laci hopes to become a lawyer and use my career to advocate for and help those who need it most.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

She was was drawn to the master’s program because it provides her the opportunity to pursue research that aligns with her interests while offering the resources and support she needs to succeed.🧡

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Next up for our M.A. student highlights is Laci Reed! 🎉 Laci is a second year master's student whose research examines the intersection of legal policy, national security, and the ways in which law shapes national security policy.📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🏡 Hometown: Topsail Beach, North Carolina 🏫 Undergrad: Virginia Tech 📚Research Interests: Disinformation, International Politics, European Studies. ✈️ Hobbies:Travel, Cook, Exercise, Play with my doggy

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Miabella's research interests include disinformation, international politics, and European studies. She hopes to use the skills obtained from her master's degree to work in local government, particularly as a city manager!👏

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Our next second year master's student we would like to highlight is Miabella Wehri!🎉 For Miabella, she chose the master's program in political science because of her undergraduate experience at Virginia Tech. This made her excited to continue her education in the department. 📚

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

📚Undergrad Instutiton/Major: Virginia Tech/ Economics 📚Research Interests: public health/policy and their impact on societal outcomes 📚Hobbies: Cooking, shotgun sports (skeet, trap, sporting clays, etc.), mountain biking

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

August recalls the impact professors at his community college had on him and he hopes to use the knowledge and skills gained from his master's degree to teach and return the favor to future generations.🧡 📚Hometown: Riverside, CA. Now, Radford, VA (since 2014)

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Meet August Hawel! The first of our 9 second year M.A. students we are highlighting!🎉 August was drawn to Department of Political Science's multidisciplinary approach to issues. His research examines the politics of public health/policy and their impact on societal outcomes.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Their presentation was well received!👏 Join us in congratulating our students on this incredible achievement! 🎉

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Recently several political science and international studies students presented their research at the Irregular Warfare Center Colloquium.📚 Their research presentation was on the threat posed by commercially available and 3-D printed drones to US Homeland Security.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

students a wonderful semester! 🧡 (Not pictured: Jackson Futch, 2nd year M.A. student, Tristan Reeves, 2nd year M.A. student)

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We are excited to introduce you to our 15 first and second-year M.A. students! 📚🎉 Over the next few weeks we will introduce each student and share their research interests, academic goals, hobbies, and more! Be sure to check back on our page for these profiles and join us in wishing our M.A.

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

cosmologies and subjectivities provide not only resources for cultural production but also a critical apparatus for wrestling with advances in digital technology and transformations in political economy. 📚 We are delighted to welcome her to our department this semester! 🎉

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Nicole Ni, the final faculty member joining the Department of Political Science this semester! 👏 A professor of religion, culture, and political economy, Ni studies the intersection of religion, popular culture, and the digital economy, especially how non-Western

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

the role of religious scholars in Islam, personal status law, Muslim-Christian relations, and, more recently, Muslim-Jewish relations. Her geographical focus is Egypt, and, more recently, Morocco.📚 We are delighted to welcome her to our department this semester! 🎉

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Rachel Scott, one of two new faculty members joining the Department of Political Science this semester! 👏 A professor of religion and politics, Dr. Scott's research focuses particularly on Islamic political thought, modern Islamic law, constitutions,

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Virginia Tech Department of Political Science @vtpsci.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Dr. Binio Binev, assistant professor of political science, recently published Crossroads After Communism (Cambridge University Press, 2026). 📚

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