Department of Political Science

West Chester University

Contact Info:
Tara Easterling
610-436-2743
teasterling@wcupa.edu


Dr. Linda S. Stevenson

Associate Professor    
            Email: LStevenson@wcupa.edu
            Phone: (610) 436-3162

Biography

I joined the International Relations team of the Political Science department West Chester
University in 2002. My primary areas of teaching and research specialization are in comparative
politics and international relations, with a focus in the region of Latin America, on topics related
to democracy, equality, development and gender politics. In the 1980s I traveled to Haiti, Kenya,
the former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine and Latvia), and Mexico for short periods, but long
enough to observe and formulate questions about poverty, inequalities and how transitions to
democracy can occur?! These questions and the myriad of answers continue to drive me as a
global citizen and as a political scientist.

In the early 1990s, I worked with a study abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico for five years,
which led to my specializations on my professional path. From my base for graduate studies at
the University of Pittsburgh (which has an awesome Latin American Studies program!), I
returned to Mexico for two years as a Fulbright Scholar to conduct my dissertation research on
women in politics in the dynamic political context of a democratizing nation. As such, much of
my work has focused on Mexican politics, and more recently in gender equity policies in Chile.

More recently, in light of the growing Latino and immigrant population in the U.S., my work
has shifted to teaching, research, and service about and with Latinos and immigrants in
Pennsylvania, and the United States in general. My Latino Politics course and the related
conferences I have organized at WCU focus social and policy issues of the Mexican migrant
population in southern Chester County and Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia.

On a personal note, I grew up in suburban Philadelphia, am married to a Latin American and
have two sons.

Education

Ph.D. Political Science, University of Pittsburgh, (2000)

Ph.D. Certificate in Women’s Studies (1997)

M.A. Certificate in Latin American Studies (1997)

M.A. Political Science, University of Pittsburgh (1995)

B.A. Political Science, College of Wooster, Ohio

Publications/Activities

  • "The Bachelet Effect on Policies for Women and Gender Equity in Chile." Latin American Perspectives, Expected date of publication: December 2011.

 

  •  “Women’s Lives in Mexico: a beautiful, tragic mosaic.” In Joyce Gelb and Marian Lief Palley, eds. Women in the World. NY: ABC-CLIO.  2009.

 

  •  “Assessing Mexico’s Democratization:  A Women’s Civil Society Perspective.”  Jude Howell and Diane Mulligan, eds. Gender and Civil Society: Transcending Boundaries. Routledge Press. 2005.

 

  •  “La discriminación de género en el ámbito laboral.” Revista de Ciencias Sociales, n. 101-102 (III-IV). San Jose, Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica. 2003.
  • “Gender Politics in the Mexican Democratization Process: Electing Women and Legislating Sex Crimes and Affirmative Action, 1988-1997.” In Jorge Domínguez and Alejandro Poiré, eds. Towards Mexico’s Democratization: Parties, Campaigns, Elections and Public Opinion. New York:  Routledge Press. 1999.
  •  “La Política de Género en el Proceso de Democratización en México: Eligiendo Mujeres y Legislando los Delitos Sexuales y Acciones Afirmativas, 1988-1997.” Mexico City:  Estudios Sociológicos de el Colegio de México v. XVII, n. 50:  519-558.  1999.

 

  • “Las Mujeres Políticas y La Izquierda en México:  Reclamo de un Nuevo Espacio en la Política Institucional.” In Maria Luisa Tarrés, ed. Género y Cultura en América Latina.  Mexico City:  Colegio de México. 1998.
  • Stevenson, Linda S. and Mitchell A. Seligson.  “Se Desvanecen los Recuerdos de la Revolución. Se Está Desgastando la Estabilidad de México?”  In Roderic Ai Camp, ed. Encuestas y Democracia:  Opinión Pública y Apertura Política en México. Mexico City: SigloVeintiuno Editores. 1997.

 

  • Stevenson, Linda S. and Mitchell A. Seligson. "Fading Memories of the Revolution:  Is Stability Eroding in Mexico?"  In Roderic Ai Camp, ed. Polling for Democracy:  Political Liberalization and Public Opinion in Mexico.  Wilmington, DE:  Scholarly Resources.  1996.

Community and Other Service

  • Director of West Chester University’s Latin American Studies Minor.
  • Co-Coordinator of WCU Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Events, 2008-2012.
  • Co-Coordinator of annual Latino Communities Conference, 2008-2012.
  • WCU Representative to Greater Philadelphia Latin American Studies Consortium.
  • PSC Undergraduate Coordinator for Social Studies Teacher Certification program.
  • PSC Internship Co-Coordinator, with John Kennedy.
  • PSC Department Advising Committee Coordinator.
  • Member, PSC Department Teacher-Scholar Model Committee.
  • Elected Member, Women’s and Gender Studies Program Executive Committee.
  • Member, Peace and Conflict Studies Minor Faculty Committee.
  • Member, Ethnic Studies Minor Faculty Committee.
  • Member, Knowledge Crossing Borders Conference Organization Committee
  • Member, WCU International Studies Advisory Committee

Classes Regularly Taught
 

  • International Relations (PSC 213)
  • Comparative Politics  (PSC 240)
  • Latin American Culture & Politics (PSC 340), Diverse Communities (“J”) course, including Service Learning options with local Latino community organizations.
  • US-Latin American Relations (PSC 310)
  • Internship Director – (PSC 412) – rotated with John Kennedy
  • Latino Politics (PSC 353), including Service Learning and Applied Research with local Latino organizations.
  • Women and Politics (PSC 301) Diverse Communities (“J”) course
  • Contemporary International Relations (PSC 317): with optional week-long seminar in Nicaragua, "The Crisis in Your Coffee Cup" on free and fair trade relative to the coffee industry, March 1-7, 2009.
  • Public Opinion and Democracy (Honors College, with Frauke Schnell) (HON 313)
  • Mexican Presidential Elections Seminar – (non-credit 2006), Six West Chester students participated in week-long seminar and Official Elections Observation of July 2 elections (approved by Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico and Mexican Consulate).  Organized in collaboration with Center for Global Education, Cuernavaca, Mexico

Work History
2007-present: Associate Professor, Political Science, West Chester University

2002-2007: Assistant Professor, Political Science, West Chester University

2000-2002: Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics, Government Department, Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky. 

1999, September-December:  Visiting Scholar, El Colegio de México, Mexico City.
1998, Summer; 1999, February – May; September-December:  Political Science Lecturer, Center for Global Education (CGE), Augsburg College, Cuernavaca, Mexico. Courses taught:

  • Development Process; Women in Politics; Political Economy of Development in Latin America; Gender and Environmental Perspectives.

September 1995-August 1997: Graduate Student Assistantship, Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), University of Pittsburgh.
Spring, 1994-Spring 1995. Teaching Assistantships, University of Pittsburgh.
August 1990-July 1993.  Special Projects Coordinator, CGE, Augsburg College, Cuernavaca Mexico, co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Chuch, U.S.A.
Links to External Websites

WCU Latin American Studies - http://www.wcupa.edu/_ACADEMICS/sch_cas/lat_stu/
WCU Celebrates Hispanic Heritage - http://www.wcupa.edu/pr/9.16HispanicMonth.asp

American Political Science Association  -  http://www.apsanet.org/index.cfm
Latin American Studies Association - http://lasa.international.pitt.edu/
International Studies Association - http://www.isanet.org/

If you are interested in Latin American Studies, on Facebook become friends with:

    • Greater Philadelphia Latin American Studies Consortium
    • WCU Latin American Studies