Beth Whitaker

Beth Whitaker is a Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean for Research and Interdisciplinary Collaboration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). She is affiliated with the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences (CHESS) and serves on the steering committee of the Center for Migration and Diaspora Studies. Previously, she was the executive director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at UNC Charlotte. Her research focuses on migration, security, and political dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa, including counter-terrorism cooperation and illicit funding strategies in conflicts. Whitaker has conducted fieldwork in Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana and has authored works such as Africa’s International Relations: Balancing Domestic and Global Interests (2018). She has been funded by the Minerva Initiative of the U.S. Department of Defense and holds a Fulbright Scholar award. Whitaker earned her bachelor’s from Princeton University and her master’s and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s in Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
  • Master’s in Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Ph.D. in Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Her research interests include migration policy, conflict dynamics, and African politics. Whitaker has contributed to journals such as the Journal of Politics, African Affairs, and Journal of Refugee Studies. She has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including past chair of the African Politics Conference Group and past officer of the Migration and Citizenship section of the American Political Science Association (APSA).

Awards:

• Fulbright Scholar (2005-2006)
• Honors Faculty at UNC Charlotte (term through June 2029)

Grants & Projects:

• Developed the Rebel Contraband Dataset and Rebel Human Rights Violation Dataset with Minerva Initiative funding

Whitaker has collaborated with institutions such as the Brookings Institution, U.S. Department of State, and Save the Children Fund. She leads interdisciplinary initiatives in migration studies and global security through her roles at CHESS and affiliated centers.