Katherine Bryant, Ph.D.

Katherine Bryant is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Westmont College, where she teaches courses in international relations. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas A&M University, and her B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Bryant’s research focuses on the political economy of development. In her dissertation and other research, she examines how the organizational characteristics of foreign aid agencies impact development outcomes, such as economic growth rates and health policies. She argues that agencies that are neutrally motivated, specialized, and autonomous should be more effective compared to other agencies, and uses an original dataset to test her argument. Dr. Bryant’s other research interests include international security and the role of non-state actors in civil war, human rights, and international law.

Dr. Bryant currently has several papers under review stemming from her dissertation. She has also presented her research at various national conferences, including annual meetings of the American Political Science Association, the Political Economy of International Organizations, the International Studies Association, and the Midwest Political Science Association. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a recipient of Texas A&M University’s Graduate Student Merit Fellowship, and the Texas A&M University’s Regents’ Graduate Fellowship.

Courses:

• POL 124: International Development

• POL 150: International Conflict and Peace-building

• POL 020: International Politics

• POL 040: Empirical Political Research