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Subtitle

Here for You

Intro

One of our department's main focuses is student-professor interaction. Whether it be through classroom lectures, student-faculty collaborative research or sitting in office hours discussing current events — we're here for you. No matter where you are in your political science or criminal justice degree, our faculty and staff are ready to help.

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Department Chair
Geoff Peterson headshot
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Professor

Dr. Peterson’s primary areas of teaching are US national elections, voting behavior, conspiracy theories, and political media.   In addition, he teaches occasionally courses on tribal politics and political scandals.  His current research is focused in two areas: looking at shifts in voter perceptions of the major political parties in the 21st century, and examining the impact of tribal gaming on voter behavior.

Faculty and Staff
Ali Abootalebi
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Professor
Hibbard Humanities Hall 416
124 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Fall Semester 2024 and Spring 2025:
MWF 12:00-1:00
and by appointment/Email

Ali R. Abootalebi is a Middle Eastern and Global Studies Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. His research and teaching interests include the Politics of the Middle East, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Iran, US foreign policy, State-Society Relations, and Democracy in the Middle East.  

Jordan Hamzawi
HE/HIM/HIS
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Assistant Professor
Hibbard Humanities Hall 414
Mondays & Wednesdays 12:00pm-2:00pm

Jordan Hamzawi joined the department in 2024. He teaches classes on comparative politics and international relations, particularly in relation to Japan and East Asia. His research is focused on electoral and party systems, voting behavior, and the intersection of domestic politics and foreign policy.

Karla Hillestad
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Department Associate
Hibbard Humanities Hall 401
124 Garfield Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Eric Kasper
Alum
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Professor
Director, Menard Center for Constitutional Studies
Hibbard Hall 412
Mia Gilliam
she/her/hers
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Assistant Professor
Hibbard Humanities Hall 427
124 Garfield Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Fall 2024:
Mondays & Wednesdays 11am - 12pm
Professional portrait of Kerry Kincaid
Alum
Political Science and Criminal Justice Department
Associate Lecturer
Hibbard Humanities Hall 401
126 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Fall Semester 2024
Tuesday 11-12
and by appointment

Dr. Kincaid teaches as an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department. She concentrates on State and Local Politics as an area of academic interest, informed by twenty five years of elected political office in local government. 

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Political Science and Criminal Justice Department

Hibbard Humanities Hall 401
124 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54701
United States