Students of the Doctorate Program

Sean F. Conroy is an ABD student. A veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Sean’s academic and professional interests tend toward defense policy and nonproliferation. He is writing about compliance with UNSCR 1540 (2004), a non-proliferation initiative mandating domestic measures from member nations. Sean holds a position as a senior civilian in the Department of the Air Force, is currently in residence at the United States Air Force War College in Montgomery, AL, and remains a member of the reserve forces. Courses taught at UNO included Constitutional Law and National Security Law. He has degrees from the University of Maine (BA), St. John’s University (JD), and Stonybrook University (MAPP). He and his wife have four children. 

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Jennifer L. Dumas is a PhD student with a concentration in International Relations. Her research interests include civil and international conflict, particularly terrorism; the roles of norms and values in state-society relations; and forms of inequality, particularly gender inequality, that produce conflict. Jennifer received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and her M.A. in International Relations from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Gina B. Holland is a Ph.D. student with a concentration in U.S. Politics. Her research interests include the affects of Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard Parish and on law enforcement. She received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Loyola University in New Orleans and Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of New Orleans. Gina is a part-time student who is a full-time law-enforcement officer.

Elizabeth Juhasz is a PhD student with concentrations in international relations and comparative politics.  Her research analyzes the politics of forced migration.  Specifically, she examines the political factors, which influence refugee status granting to asylum-seekers. She received a M.A. in political science from the University of New Orleans, and a B.A. in psychology and philosophy from Loyola University New Orleans. Elizabeth also studied Hungarian language and culture at the Balassi Institute in Budapest from 2008-2009.  

Anthony Licciardi, Jr. is a Ph.D. student concentrating in Public Administration and Voters and Elections. His Master of Public Administration work at UNO focused on facets of election administration and electoral methods. Licciardi earned his BA in History from Southeastern Louisianan University in 1993. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he served as a City Councilman for eight years (1999-2006) in the city of Hammond, LA. He was appointed as chairman of Hammond's Home Rule Charter Revision Commission from 2010-2011. Licciardi was appointed as chairman of the Tangipahoa Parish Home Rule Charter Revision Commission in 2013. In addition to public service, he has owned and operated a logistics and transportation firm serving the business-to-business needs of the Gulf South since 1994.

Jessica Markstrom is a Ph.D. student with a concentration in International Relations. Her research interests include conflict studies, mass political violence, and ethics and norms in the international community. She received a B.A. in government and speech with honors from McNeese State University in May 2008. In 2011, she received a J.D. from the Texas Tech University School of Law. She was an eight year competitor in speech and debate activities and was successful in state and national competitions. Jessica has taught for the Louisiana Governor’s Program for Gifted Children.

Thomas Michael McQuaid is a PHD candidate (ABD) in comparative politics with a specialization on Africa. His primary research interest focuses on how religion and food security in Africa affect autocratic survival, the likelihood of social movements and democratization. His secondary research interest focuses on the effects of educational language policies in Africa on civic engagement, political knowledge and participation. He has done field work in Africa to collect primary data. Before pursuing a PHD at the University of New Orleans, he attained his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar association as well as the American Bar Association.

Scott N. Nolan a Ph.D. candidate with concentrations in American Politics and Public Law. His teaching and research interests include public and constitutional law, judicial and litigation processes, criminal justice, minority politics (particularly LGBT Politics), media framing, and methodology. Mr. Nolan was employed full-time in the public and private sector throughout his entire academic career. From 2001-2015 he worked as a litigation paralegal in law firms doing complex civil litigation, trial and appellate work in the legal fields of tortious/personal injury, family law, corporate formation and transactions, taxation, real estate transactions, historic preservation, immigration matters, medical malpractice and healthcare law. Since 2002, he has worked as a part-time meteorologist for the U.S. National Weather Service and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration at New Orleans International Airport. He received his B.A. in Political Science with Pre-Law Concentration from the University of New Orleans in 2007 and his M.A. in Political Science in 2013. He is a member of several academic honor societies including Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science academic honor society, serving as UNO Chapter President from 2012 to 2014. Since 2013, at the University of New Orleans, he has taught courses in American Government, LGBT Politics, Criminal Justice, and currently teaches Methods of Political Research. In 2015, he also joined the adjunct faculty at Tulane University where he has taught American Government, LGBT Politics, Criminal Justice, Courts & Politics, and Constitutional Law.

Jennifer A. Notariano is a Ph.D. student in International Relations and Comparative Politics. She is interested in the causes of civil conflict, autocratic institutions, and democratization. Jennifer received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Southeastern Louisiana University and recently completed her Masters degree here at the University of New Orleans.

Michael J. Pickering, Ph.D. student, concentrates in comparative politics. His research focuses on Latin American issues such as immigration, drug cartels, state responses and media framing. He received his first B.A. from Louisiana State University in political science with a concentration in comparative politics and a minor in classical civilization. Additionally he received his second B.A. in French with a concentration in French and francophone political studies; both degrees earned in 2010. He received his M.A. in political science at the University of New Orleans in 2012.

Maria L. Pisaneschi is a Ph.D. student with a concentration in International Relations. Her research interests include political economy, and the European Union. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tampa and Master's degree from the University of South Florida. Before pursuing her graduate studies, she was an adjunct professor at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tana R. H. Stevenson is a Ph.D. student concentrating in International Relations. Her research interests include human trafficking, immigration policies and the role of Nongovernmental Organizations and Intergovernmental Organizations in influencing government policymaking decisions. Tana received her Master of Public Administration degree from UNO in 2010, specializing in nonprofit leadership. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a national multi-discipline academic honor society, and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science academic honor society. She currently teaches Introduction to American Government and serves as an officer in the Greater New Orleans Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.

Jason G. Waguespack is currently a Ph.D. student whose concentration is in American institutions. He received a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's in Political Science from UNO. His research interests include American elections, the Presidency, Congress, and voting behavior. His specific interests are focused on charting voting trends across the country as it relates to the two major political parties. He is also a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha – The National Political Science Honor Society.

Robert Worth is a Ph.D. student specializing in international relations. His research interests include international regimes and the role of non-state actors, ethics, morals, and norms in international society. He received a B.A. in political science with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2009. In 2011, he received an M.A. in International Relations from the City College of New York, where he was nominated for the Rubin Award and received the 2010-2011 Frank Owarish Prize in International Relations.