Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
College of Arts and Sciences
Office Location: Eckhart Hall, Room 408
Phone: 630-844-6166
Fax: 630-844-5242
Email Address: jmehrtens@aurora.edu
I have both traveled (44 states, 30ish countries) and moved (15 times) a lot, so
I sort of feel at home both everywhere and nowhere simultaneously, but my roots
are primarily in Irvine, CA. My
interests as a political scientist stem largely from a desire to understand the
strengths and weaknesses of our society by viewing it in the context of the
larger international community, particularly with respect to social policy and
foreign relations. My big emphasis as a
teacher is encouraging students to step out of their respective comfort zones
and interact with the larger world, both intellectually (confronting new ideas)
and literally (travel, especially ‘study away’ opportunities). In addition to a previous stint at AU, I have
taught at UNC-Chapel Hill, Miami University (OH), UNLV, Beloit College (WI),
and Keene State College (NH), but I love the teaching/learning environment
here, so I’m thrilled to be back.
Education
PhD, Political Science, University of North Carolina –
Chapel Hill, 2004
MA, Political Science, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 1999
BA, Business/Economics, University of California - Santa Barbara, 1990
Areas of Specialization
Comparative Welfare States
Comparative Foreign Policy
International Relations
Courses Taught
International Relations
European Politics
United States Politics
Nordic Politics
Comparative Foreign Policy
Comparative Anti-Americanism
Communist Political Systems
Research Methods
Understanding Politics through Film
Publication, Media, and Speaking Highlights
“Three
Worlds of Public Opinion? Values, Variation, and the Effect on Social Policy”, International
Journal of Public Opinion Research,16/2 (Summer 2004): 115-143.
“Laissez-Faire vs.
Regulated Capitalism: A Cross-National Analysis of Social Costs”, Sociological
Spectrum, 24/3 (May-June 2004): 341-368.
“What About North Korea’s
Sovereignty?”, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
15 October 2006.
“What Better
History?”, New Hampshire Union Leader,
2 February 2009.
“KVVU Fox 5 News at
10” discussing death of Abu Moussab al Zarqawi, interviewed by Ann Lim, Las
Vegas, June 2006.
“News One at Nine”
with Jeff Gillen, discussing Ukrainian election, Las Vegas One, November 29,
2004.
“NewsNight with Aaron
Brown”, panel discussion of upcoming presidential election, CNN, October 1,
2004.
“The Emperor has No
Clothes: Why the US is No Longer the ‘Leader of the Free World’”, UNLV
University Forum lecture series, November 30, 2005.
Highlights of Teaching Career
Accompanied class of 16 Keene State students to Norway,
Sweden, & Iceland (May 2012)
Accompanied group of six AU students to Model United Nations
in St. Louis (March 2008)
College of Liberal
Arts nominee, UNLV CSUN (student government) Faculty Excellence in Teaching
Award, Spring 2006
