https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/ en https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/news-block/2025/09/25/welcoming-2025-graduate-cohort <span>Welcoming the 2025 Graduate Cohort</span> <span><span>dzara016</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-09-25T14:36:26-07:00" title="Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 14:36">Thu, 09/25/2025 - 14:36</time> </span> <a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/news-block">More News</a> <picture> <source srcset="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_l/public/2025-09/img_7461.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=relFaDqt 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1401px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1170" height="450"> <source srcset="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_l/public/2025-09/img_7461.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=relFaDqt 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1400px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1170" height="450"> <source srcset="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_m/public/2025-09/img_7461.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=rc2v_6hg 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1023" height="450"> <source srcset="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_s/public/2025-09/img_7461.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=BhSAHYIs 1x" type="image/jpeg" width="767" height="767"> <img loading="eager" width="1170" height="450" src="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_l/public/2025-09/img_7461.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=relFaDqt" alt> </picture> Donald Zárate <time datetime="2025-09-25T12:00:00Z">September 25, 2025</time> <h2>Welcoming the 2025 Graduate Cohort</h2><p data-start="224" data-end="524">On Wednesday, September 24, 2024, the Department of Political Science hosted its annual <strong data-start="312" data-end="348">New Graduate Student Orientation</strong> in the Jenkin Library. The event welcomed our incoming Ph.D. students and introduced them to faculty, staff, and peers as they begin their academic journey at UC Riverside.</p><p data-start="526" data-end="1029">The orientation began with remarks from Department Chair<strong data-start="566" data-end="606"> Dr. Kevin Esterling</strong>, followed by self-introductions from the new cohort. Graduate Student Advisor <strong data-start="685" data-end="712">Lorena “Lori” Jaramillo</strong>, Financial and Administrative Officer<strong data-start="714" data-end="773"> Christina Gnuschke</strong>, and Administrative Assistant<strong data-start="779" data-end="829"> Lety Vazquez-Angeleri</strong> provided key information about program resources and department operations. Director of Graduate Studies<strong data-start="906" data-end="958"> Dr. Marissa Brookes</strong> then outlined academic expectations and guidance for the first year.</p><p data-start="1031" data-end="1149">A <strong data-start="965" data-end="987">cohort group photo</strong> (depicted above) marked the occasion, after which students met with their field chairs for focused discussions in each subfield:</p><ul><li><p data-start="1336" data-end="1378"><strong data-start="1336" data-end="1357">American Politics</strong> – Dr. Andrea Silva</p></li><li><p data-start="1287" data-end="1333"><strong data-start="1287" data-end="1311">Comparative Politics</strong> – Dr. Diego Esparza</p></li><li><p data-start="1381" data-end="1428"><strong data-start="1381" data-end="1408">International Relations</strong> – Dr. Steven Liao</p></li><li><p data-start="1431" data-end="1475"><strong data-start="1478" data-end="1505">Mass Political Behavior</strong> – Dr. Daniel Biggers</p></li><li><p data-start="1431" data-end="1475"><strong data-start="1431" data-end="1451">Political Theory</strong> – Dr. Desireé Melonas</p></li></ul><p data-start="1530" data-end="1924">The afternoon featured a <strong data-start="1555" data-end="1599">Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion session</strong> led by <strong data-start="1607" data-end="1639">Prof. Nicholas “Nick” Weller</strong>, followed by presentations from Graduate Student Association President<strong data-start="1672" data-end="1731"> Gregory Hutchins</strong> and Vice President<strong data-start="1736" data-end="1768"> Donald Zarate</strong>, who introduced the department’s new <strong data-start="1806" data-end="1857">Graduate Student Mentorship Program (POSC GSMP)</strong>. The day concluded with a union orientation and open discussion.</p><p data-start="1926" data-end="2121">We are thrilled to welcome the <strong data-start="1957" data-end="1972">2025 Cohort</strong>, whose diverse research interests span political behavior, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and political economy.</p><p data-start="2123" data-end="2149"><strong data-start="2123" data-end="2147">Meet the New Cohort:</strong></p><ul><li><p data-start="2152" data-end="2268"><strong data-start="2152" data-end="2178">Francisca Baffour Addo</strong> – Local development, migration studies, intra-state inequalities (Comparative Politics)</p></li><li><p data-start="2271" data-end="2407"><strong data-start="2271" data-end="2290">Carlos De Souza</strong> – Fake news, deepfakes, U.S. discourse, polarization, factual reality (American Politics; Mass Political Behavior)</p></li><li><p data-start="2410" data-end="2530"><strong data-start="2410" data-end="2434">Benjamin Willi Gavin</strong> – Development, foreign aid, political economy (Comparative Politics; International Relations)</p></li><li><p data-start="2533" data-end="2638"><strong data-start="2533" data-end="2550">Huabshiab Lee</strong> – Gender and politics, women’s political involvement, human rights (Political Theory)</p></li><li><p data-start="2641" data-end="2759"><strong data-start="2641" data-end="2656">Zhi-Ying Li</strong> – Voting behavior, democratization, spatial analysis (Comparative Politics; Mass Political Behavior)</p></li><li><p data-start="2762" data-end="2915"><strong data-start="2762" data-end="2789">Jaylynn Isabelle Lopez</strong> – Political participation, public opinion polling, democracy, civic engagement (Mass Political Behavior; American Politics)</p></li><li><p data-start="2918" data-end="3043"><strong data-start="2918" data-end="2941">Ross Sidney Richter</strong> – Activist networks, political behavior, media &amp; politics (Comparative Politics; American Politics)</p></li><li><p data-start="3046" data-end="3158"><strong data-start="3046" data-end="3066">Nikolay Shikunov</strong> – Algorithmic governance, democratic accountability, automation (Mass Political Behavior)</p></li><li><p data-start="3161" data-end="3308"><strong data-start="3161" data-end="3178">Anna Tabakina</strong> – Ontological security, propaganda, populism, Russia &amp; the post-Soviet space (International Relations; Mass Political Behavior)</p></li><li><p data-start="3311" data-end="3414"><strong data-start="3311" data-end="3329">Xiangxue Zheng</strong> – Political economy, globalization (International Relations; Comparative Politics)</p></li></ul><p data-start="3416" data-end="3542">We look forward to seeing the contributions this cohort will make to our department and the discipline in the years to come.</p><p data-start="1031" data-end="1149">&nbsp;</p> <div class="tags-title">Tags</div> <div class="tags-list"> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/graduate-program" hreflang="en">Graduate Program</a></div> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/new-cohort" hreflang="en">New Cohort</a></div> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/student-orientation" hreflang="en">Student Orientation</a></div> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/political-science-department" hreflang="en">Political Science Department</a></div> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/graduate-student-life" hreflang="en">Graduate Student Life</a></div> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/community-belonging" hreflang="en">Community &amp; Belonging</a></div> <div><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/tags/research-scholarship" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Scholarship</a></div> </div> <div class="sharing-title">Share This</div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/news-block/2025/09/25/welcoming-2025-graduate-cohort" data-a2a-title="Welcoming the 2025 Graduate Cohort"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_x"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_google_plus"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_printfriendly"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" aria-label="more options to share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoliticalscience.ucr.edu%2Fnews-block%2F2025%2F09%2F25%2Fwelcoming-2025-graduate-cohort&amp;title=Welcoming%20the%202025%20Graduate%20Cohort"></a></span><script> (function () { const customClassName = 'show-for-sr'; const targetContainer = document.querySelector('.a2a_kit.addtoany_list'); if (!targetContainer) return; const addClassToLabels = () => { const labels = targetContainer.querySelectorAll('.a2a_label'); if (labels.length > 0) { labels.forEach(label => { if (!label.classList.contains(customClassName)) { label.classList.add(customClassName); } }); console.log('Successfully applied show-for-sr class to AddToAny labels.'); return true; } return false; }; const observerConfig = { childList: true, subtree: true }; const observer = new MutationObserver((mutationsList, observer) => { if (addClassToLabels()) { observer.disconnect(); } }); if (!addClassToLabels()) { observer.observe(targetContainer, observerConfig); } })(); </script> Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:36:26 +0000 dzara016 263 at https://politicalscience.ucr.edu