Former Faculty and Staff

Robert Cook

Bob Cook serves as Counsel to the Chairman of the New York State Assembly Transportation Committee, providing legal advice and counsel on transportation policy, drafting legislation, and meeting with constituents, legislators and lobbyists.  He has also worked in town, city and county government. Currently a Vice Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, Cook formerly served as Chairman of the Monroe County (Rochester, NY) Democratic Committee.  He has attended five Democratic National Conventions as a delegate, volunteer or guest. Cook has appeared as a guest political commentator on numerous local television and radio programs and has had political opinion pieces published in the Messenger-Post Newspapers, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and City Newspaper. Cook has twice run for public office and participated in, managed or consulted on dozens of local, state and national political campaigns.

Contact Info

Office: Welles 3G
Phone: (585) 245-5371
e-Mail: cookr@geneseo.edu

Courses

PLSC 110: American Politics 

Professional Awards and Activities

  • Member, UAW Local 1981 (NWU)
  • Vice Chair, NYS Democratic Committee
  • Parent’s Council, St. Paul’s Child Care Center
  • Member, Monroe County Bar Association
  • 2004 Democratic & Working Families Parties Candidate for Monroe County Clerk
  • Political Analyst, GRC-TV 9 & WROC-TV 8; Guest Co-Host, WHAM Radio talk-shows; Guest, WXXI TV & Radio Talk Shows
  • Former Board Member, Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center
  • Delegate, 1996 Democratic National Convention; Alternate Delegate, 1988 Democratic National Convention
  • Past Member, Rochester Council on Occupational Safety and Health
  • Former Member, American Association of Parliamentarians
  • Chair, Montage '93 Festival Transportation CommitteePast Member, Monroe County Ethics Review Board
  • Former Trustee, Eisenhower College
  • Past Member, Rochester, B.S.A., Board of Directors

Education

  • J.D. Boston University School of Law
  • B.A. Eisenhower College, Political Science 

Favorite Non-Research Links

Drachman Bio

Edward Drachman

Edward Drachman

 

    Dr. Drachman received his Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and came to Geneseo in 1991. He teaches six courses on a regular basis: Introduction to International Relations; Politics of the Middle East; Politics of Genocide; Politics of Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean; U.S. Foreign Policy; and Seminar on Global Issues. He has served as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, Social Studies Chair for a secondary school, Coordinator of a Public School Teacher Fellowship Program for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, consultant for the College Board Advanced Placement Government and Politics Program, curriculum evaluator for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, volunteer tutor for second and third grade students in the Rochester City School District, and director of the Geneseo student volunteer tutoring program in Rochester sponsored by the Puerto Rican Youth Development and Resource Center. His publications include United States Policy Toward Vietnam, 1940-1945 (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1970); Challenging the Kremlin (Paragon House Publishers, 1992); Presidents and Foreign Policy (SUNY Press, 1997 with Professor Alan Shank), You Decide! Controversial Global Issues (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003 with Prof. Shank et al), and Controversial Cases in American Politics (Rowman & Littlefield, second edition, 2008, with Professor Robert Langran). He has also written several articles for books, journals and newspapers. Dr. Drachman has served as Director of the International Relations Program; and faculty advisor for the Model UN/Model EU Club and the Geneseo chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, the national honor society for international relations majors.

Contact Info

Office: Welles 3B
Phone: 245-5456
e-Mail: drachman@geneseo.edu 

Courses

PLSC 140 Introduction to International Relations
PLSC 241 Politics of Genocide ( PLSC 241 Course Syllabus)
PLSC 246 U.S. Foreign Policy
PLSC 325 Politics of Mexico, Central America ( PLSC 325 Course Syllabus)
PLSC 328 Politics of the Middle East
PLSC 346 Seminar in Global Issues 
PLSC 395 Internship ( PLSC 395 Course Syllabus)

Publications

  • “How will the U.S. Respond to the Death of Fidel Castro?” Revuelta , August 2007
  • “Turn to Left in Latin America Demands U.S. Focus, Action,” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, January 26, 2007
  • "Access to Higher Education for Undocumented Students," Peace Review, Jan.-March 2006
  • "More to Schooling than Math, Science," Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, 2/21/06
  • You Decide! Controversial Cases in American Politics (with Prof. Alan Shank), Rowman & Littlefield, 1999 Second edition scheduled for publication in 2007
  • You Decide! Controversial Global Issues (with Prof. Alan Shank), Rowman & Littlefield, 2003
  • Presidents and Foreign Policy (with Alan Shank), SUNY Press, 1997.
  • Challenging the Kremlin, Paragon House Publishers, 1991
  • The United States and Vietnam, 1940-1945. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1971

Professional Awards and Activities

  • Geneseo Teacher Award, 2005
  • United Nations of Rochester Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award, 2005
  • Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, October 2004
  • Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award, 2000-2001

Papers and Recent Professional Conferences

  • Should Undocumented Students Qualify for in-state Tuition to Public Colleges and Universities?” Crossing the Border Conference, San Francisco State University, 2004
  • “Providing Equal Access to Postsecondary Education for Undocumented Students,” International Conference on Social Science Research, Orlando, Florida, 2005

Community Service

  • Reading tutor for second and third grade students in School 45, Rochester City School District
  • Director of Geneseo student volunteer tutoring program for K-12 students in Rochester sponsored by the Puerto Rican Youth Development and Resource Center
  • Discussion leader of Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions program at senior citizens complex in Greece

Education

  • Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, International Relations
  • M.A.T. Harvard Graduate School of Education, Social Studies
  • M.A. University of Pennsylvania, Political Science
  • B.A. Government, ( cum laude) Harvard College

Kenneth L. Deutsch

Professor. Dr. Deutsch is a specialist in twentieth century political philosophy, constitutionalism, and civil liberties. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in 1970 and has been teaching at Geneseo since 1973. He has published seven books, including Political Obligation and Civil Disobedience (1973), Constitutional Rights and Student Life (1973), Political Thought in Modern India (1986), The Crisis of Liberal Democracy: A Straussian Perspective (1987), Leo Strauss: Political Philosopher and Jewish Thinker (1994); Strauss, The Straussians, and the Study of the American Regime (1999); and Lincoln's American Dream (2005) with Joseph Fornieri. He has been the recipient of five NEH Summer Research grants in political philosophy and Western constitutional theory. He is coordinator of the Religious Studies and Legal Studies programs at Geneseo. Presently he is engaged in another book project with Joseph Fornieri, (SUNY Geneseo Class of 1987) - "An Invitation to Political Thought," to be published by Thompson. Professor Deutsch is also editor of two book series - 20th Century Political Thinking (Rowman & Littlefield), and "Provocations," a new series for political philosophy and contemporary issues for University Press of kentucky.

Courses

 PLSC 202 World Religions
 PLSC 218 Politics of Judicial Process
 PLSC 230 Political Theory ( PLSC 230 Course Syllabus)
 PLSC 313 Political Leadership
 PLSC 315 Legislative Politics
 PLSC 318 Constitutional Law
 PLSC 319 Constitutional Rights and Liberties ( PLSC 319 Course Syllabus)
 PLSC 336 The American Founders
 PLSC 337 Major Political Philosophers ( PLSC 337 Course Syllabus)
 HUMN 221 Western Humanities II

Publications

  • Lincoln’s American Dream, Potomac Books
  • Leo Strauss, The Straussians, and the Study of the American Regime, Rowman and Littlefield 
  • The Crisis of Liberal Democracy: A Straussian Perspective, SUNY Press 
  • Political Thought in Modern India, Sage Publications 

Professional Awards and Achievements

  • 5 NEH Summer Awards
  • Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholastics and Research (2004)
  • New York Council on Human Bicentennial Leadership (1976)
  • Fulbright Senior Professorship, India (traveling, 1979)

Education

  • Ph.D. University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Political Science
  • M.A.  University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Political Science
  • B.A. St. John's University, Political Science

Root Bio

Rebecca Root

Professor Rebecca Root received her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts , Amherst in February 2007. Her research interests include transnational social movements, Latin American politics, democratization, development, and comparing responses to political violence across regions. She has conducted research in Peru and Mexico , though her travels have also taken her to Europe and North Africa and will take her to Cambodia in the summer of 2008. Before joining the Geneseo faculty, Professor Root spent the 2006-2007 academic year teaching at Iona College in New Rochelle , New York.

Contact Info

Office: Welles 3D
Phone: 245-5458
e-Mail: rootr@geneseo.edu 

Courses

PLSC 120 Comparative Politics
PLSC 228 Developing World Politics
PLSC 227 Democratization
PLSC 246 US Foreign Policy
PLSC 291 Civil War and Conflict Resolution
PLSC 324 Human Rights
PLSC 388 Politics of South America
INTD 105 Fighting Colonialism in the Congo

Publications

  • The Sticking Point: Human Rights and Civil-Military Relations in Latin America : A book length manuscript. Under revision.
  • “Book Review: Fujimori's Peru : Deception in the Public Sphere .” Comparative Political Studies. August 2006 (Vol 39): p. 794-797.
  • Entries in Poverty in the United States : An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, and Policy (2004). Gwendolyn Mink and Alice O'Connor, eds. Topics covered include: The Grapes of Wrath , How the Other Half Lives , The Jungle , Vocational Education, Indentured Servitude, Agency for International Development, AmeriCorps, Operation Breadbasket, Vista, Dillingham Commission Report, Teacher Corps.

Professional Awards and Activities

  • “Outsiders In: Transitional Justice Networks and State Transformation.” Paper presented at the International Studies Association conference in Chicago , IL , March 2007.
  • “The Sticking Point: Human Rights and Civil-Military Relations in Latin America .” Paper presented at the Northeastern Political Science Association conference in Boston , MA , November 2006.
  • Panel chair, organizer and discussant. “ Contested Ideas of State and Nation in Turkey .” New England Political Science Association conference in Portsmouth , NH , May 2006.
  • “Human Rights Accountability in Transitioning Democracies: Negotiating Transitional Justice in Peru .” Paper presented at the American Political Science Association conference in Washington DC , September 2005.
  • “Negotiating Truth: Transitional Justice in Peru .” Paper presented at the New England Political Science Association conference in Portland , Maine , April 2005.
  • Reviewed papers submitted to the American Academy of Political and Social Science in competition for the Academy's Undergraduate Research Award, 2005.
  • American Political Science Association Travel Grant, 2005
  • University of Massachusetts Travel Grant, 2005
  • Graduate Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2005
  • Carter Center Graduate Student Assistantship, 2004

Education 

  • Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Political Science, specializations in Comparative Politics and International Relations
  • B.A. Eckerd College ; Major – Literature, Minors – International Relations, Philosophy

Links

Honors Theses of the Past

Political Science Honors Theses, 2008

  • Jeff Beadnell with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Jeffrey Koch: Political Campaigns and American Presidential Elections 
  • Ryan Larose with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Marilyn Klotz: Social Security Reform: Will Politicians Choose the Right Economic Strategy
  • Marie Puccio with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Jeremy Grace: Gendered Quota Systems in Developing World Democracies: Shattering Glass Ceilings
  •  Andrew Sewnauth with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Jeffrey Koch: Religion and American Political Behavior: What is the "Religious Right?"

International Relations Honors Theses, 2008

  • Ari Renoni with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Jeremy Grace: Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: The Implementation of National Policy in Northern Uganda
  • Lisa Robbins with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Rebecca Root: Population Control in India and China: The Unresolved Issues
  • Diana Snyder (College Honors) with Thesis Supervisor: Professor Jeffrey Koch: The Steel Seizure Case and the Ruling's Applicability to the Establishment of Military Tribunals for Enemy Combatants