Erika K. Masaki, Ph.D.
About Me
I am currently a faculty member in the Social Science Division at Lane Community College. Current LCC students: click here for course descriptions, sample syllabi, etc.! I am also an adjunct instructor at Southern Arkansas University, where I teach graduate research methods for the Master of Public Administration program.
I earned my Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) My concentrations are international relations and political theory. My dissertation, entitled Institutional Dissonance and Reserved Cooperation: Theory and Evidence from International Environmental Agreements, focuses on explaining participation in and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In my dissertation, which used both qualitative and advanced quantitative methods, I also develop a new theory of institutional dissonance to explain varying levels of institutional and organizational dysfunction. In addition to the study of environmental institutions, I am also interested in environmental political theory and environmental ethics.
I am committed to teaching excellence. I was part of the inaugural cohort of the year-long UNLV Graduate College Teaching Certification, as well as a member of the inaugural cohort of the year-long UNLV Graduate College Mentorship Certification. My most important belief as an instructor is to use various methods for teaching to support the diverse backgrounds and interests of my students. I was awarded the Department of Political Science Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award in both 2016 and 2017. I completed the workshop, Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR), to supplement my online teaching experience. At Lane, all of my courses comport with OSCQR standards. I continue to improve and hone my teaching skills through teaching honors courses at Lane, staying involved with the Inclusive Teaching Events Committee, and serving as the Social Science representative to the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Steering Committee. I continue to work on rural and veteran outreach, something I became interested in at UNLV. To learn more about my teaching experience, training, and philosophy, please visit my teaching page.
I am interested in pursuing a research agenda focused on environmental institutions through a mix of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. I attended the ICPSR Summer Program at the University of Michigan, where I completed courses in generalized linear models and network analysis. I am also currently the designated representative for Lane's membership to the ICPSR so that I can promote undergraduate research. I also earned the UNLV Graduate Certificate in Social Science Research Methods, which requires 15 credits of graduate-level coursework in social science research methodology. My current research investigates questions of environmental ethics by examining anthropocentric and non-anthropocentric approaches to understanding the relationship between humans and nature. To learn more about my research agenda and experience, please visit my research page.
Overview
CURRENT COURSES (Winter 2023):
Lane Community College:
- Modern World Governments (PS 101)
- Introduction to Political Theory (PS 208)
- Political Ideology (PS 225)
UPCOMING COURSES (Summer 2023):
Southern Arkansas University:
- Research Methods (PA 6073) - anticipated
TEACHING INTERESTS:
- Political Theory
- International Relations
- Research Methodology
- Environmental Politics
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- International Environmental Agreements
- Environmental Ethics
- Treaty Design
- Teaching and Learning in Political Science
SKILLS:
- Quantitative Methods
- Qualitative Methods
- Teaching in Higher Education
- Program Review and Outcomes Assessment
- Stata, R, LaTeX, Microsoft Office
CONTACT INFORMATION:
erika[at]erikamasaki.com
Find Me Online:
Click Here to Visit My Twitter
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