Graduate Students | Public Policy, Justice and Social Issues Programs | SIU

Atinuke “Elizabeth” Ayowole is a Doctoral student from Nigeria.  She earned her Bachelors in International Law and Diplomacy from Babcock University in Nigeria.  Her research interests include comparative politics, political communication, political behavior, democracy and governance.  She is a lifetime member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.  She has recently made presentations at theAmerican Political Science Association (APSA) conference in 2022 and the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) in 2023.

Myla Burton is a Doctoral student from Sheldon, IL.  She earned her BA in Political Science specializing in Pre- Law (2019); and a Juris Doctor specializing in Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Health Law and Policy (2022) here at SIU.  Her research interests include international human rights, military expenditures, national security, international institutions, and court systems.  She hopes to pursue a career in data analysis for a Federal government agency.  She was part of the Political Science department as an undergrad and loved it, so decided to stay for her graduate work.  Once a Saluki, always a Saluki!

Abiodun Folorunsho is a PhD student in Political Science. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Lagos State University in Nigeria. He is a current SIU Graduate School Doctoral Fellowship Award recipient for the 2023/2024 academic year.

He is a highly motivated graduate student in Political Science with a diverse range of interests in international relations, specifically in peace and conflicts, emerging technologies, international security, ethnicity and nationalism.

Abiodun’s main research focus is on how emerging technologies (weapons of mass destruction) can foster peace and stability in the international paradigm.

Oleg Golishnikov joined the doctoral program in Political Science at SIU in the Fall of 2022, with a keen interest in the field of international relations and comparative politics. He holds a BA degree in International Relations from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). In 2015, he graduated from the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow (Russian Federation), with an MA degree in International Relations: European and Asian Studies. 

Oleg has extensive work experience in the public, private and NGO sectors, with a prime focus on analytics. His research interests include the dynamics of the US-China strategic competition, the security issues in Central Asia and South Asia, and integration processes in the Indo-Pacific region. His theoretical inquiries cover great power rivalry, grand strategy, strategic culture and foreign policy behavior.

Nathan Holm is a Doctoral student from Newman, IL. He earned his Associate’s from Parkland College; his Bachelor’s from Eastern Illinois University; and his Master’s from Northern Illinois University. His research interests include public law and international relations. He has held Graduate Assistantships as a Teaching Assistant and hopes to remain in academia as a professor.

Adeshewa Ibrahim is a doctoral student from Nigeria. She earned a BS in Political Science from the University of Ibadan. Her research interests include institutionalism, terrorism and regional security policy. Her past research has looked at anti-graft policies and state development. She has worked as a graduate instructor for multiple courses at Lead Academy in Nigeria and is currently a TA here at SIU. She was awarded Best Educationist of the Year at the University of Ibadan in 2022. She hopes to remain in academia as a professor.

W. Ayorinde Olanrewaju holds a BSc degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. Currently, he is a PhD student in Political Science at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He received the SIU Graduate School “Doctoral Fellowship Award” for the 2022/2023 academic year.

Ayorinde’s broad research interests lie in comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. Specifically, he focuses on the assessment of political institutions across democracies with deep ethnic and other cleavages in Africa and how they can be strengthened to inspire good governance. Also, he is interested in examining the roles of international institutions in international affairs.

Akinbiyi Oyekunle is a Doctoral Student from Ibadan, Nigeria. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University. His research interests include comparative politics, public policy and electoral studies, with a core interest in strengthening African Democratic institutions. He hopes to continue both teaching and research in the future.

• Agunbiade, A., Agbalajobi, D., & Oyekunle, A. (2017). Assessment Students’ use Of Information and Communication Technology Facilities: A Case Study Of Obafemi Awolowo University Library. In Covenant Conference on E-governance (Vol. 4, pp. 1-5).
• Adefemi, A. O., & Oyekunle, A. B. (2018). Government Responses to Electoral Violence in Nigeria: Issues and Prospects. Int. J. Sci. Res. in Multidisciplinary Studies Vol, 4, 5.

“Populism, Outlier Candidates and Governance Impact: A Comparative Overview” presented at the 80th Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago IL, April 13th -16th 2023.

Ayodeji Oyekunle is a Doctoral student from Nigeria. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Ekiti State University and a Master of Science in Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University, both in Nigeria. She was an Assistant Lecturer at Wesley University, Nigeria from 2019 to 2022. Her research interests include gender and legislative studies and comparative politics. She hopes to continue to pursue both teaching and research.

• Adefemi, A. O. and Agunbiade, A. T. (2019). Women’s Political Participation and Representation in State Legislatures, Southwest, Nigeria. Journal of Political Science and Public Affairs, 7(1), 1-7. DOI: 10.4172/2332-0761.1000358.
• Agunbiade, A. T. and Agbalajobi, D. T. (2017). Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria and South Africa: Issues and Challenges. In M. E. Sotunsa and O. YacobHaliso, (Eds.), Gender, Culture and Development in Africa (pp. 541-552). Austin TX: Pan-African University Press.

• “Gender Inequality, A Global Issue; A Descriptive and Substantive Representation of Subnational Legislators, Illinois, United States of America”. Presented at Political Science Association International Conference, April 3^rd-5^th 2023, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; and Midwest Political Science Association annual conference, Chicago, IL, April 13^th – 16^th 2023.
• “Ethnic/Cultural Diversity and Nation Building in Pre & Post-Colonial Nigeria”. UNESCO Regional Conference on the Governance of Diversity, Accra, Ghana, 10th - 11th October 2019.
• “Fifteen Years of Democratic Rule, a Dividend or Deficit? A Reflection on the Governance Aspect of Democracy in Nigeria since 1999”. The 4th International Toyin Falola Annual Conference (TOFAC), University of the Free State, Durban, South Africa, 3rd – 5th July 2014.

Kimberly Shella is a doctoral student from Hillsborough, NC. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College with a double major in Government and Physics; an M.A. in African American Studies from Columbia University; and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.  Her research interests include racial, ethnic, immigrant, and women’s representation and violence; political institutions and parties; and the following regions: Western Europe, Canada, Oceania, Africa (focus: Ghana, West Africa).

Kimberly is currently on the job market.

Clare R. Tang is a doctoral student in Political Science. She holds a B.A., an M.P.A., and an LL.M. She is interested in the field of international relations and comparative politics, specifically in topics related to US-China cooperation and competition; global clean/renewable energy policy; global south development; and social movements. She has served as a teaching assistant for courses including Introduction to International Relations and Research Methods.