Dr. Jennifer S. Schiff

Biography

Dr. Schiff came to Western in 2010 as a faculty member in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs. She loves being exposed to new countries and cultures (and foods!), and that started when she had the opportunity to live in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore many years ago. Dr. Schiff holds a Ph.D. in International Studies from Old Dominion University, and at Western, she teaches a number of classes in international politics, which focus primarily on matters of international development, environmental policy, and diplomacy. Additionally, her scholarship analyzes comparative water policy around the globe, with a specific concentration on policies targeting water scarcity and the human right to water. Dr. Schiff is also very interested and active in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Education

• Ph D, Old Dominion University
• MA, Cleveland State University
• BA, University of Virginia

Teaching Interests

While at Western, Dr. Schiff has taught Global Issues, International Political Economy, International Environmental Politics, Model United Nations, Politics of Asia, Politics of Ethnic Conflict, Simulations in Diplomacy, Introduction to International Studies, and International Studies Capstone.

Research Interests

Dr. Schiff's research is two-tiered. First, comparative water policy around the globe is the primary focus of her research, with a specific concentration on policies targeting water scarcity, decentralization, and the human right to water. Second, she studies the organizational culture of political science departments, both in terms of their partnerships with other university entities, and in terms of their relationship to international studies programs.