Cigdem V. Sirin

Dr. Cigdem V. Sirin is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), College of Liberal Arts. She earned her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 2009 and a B.A. from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2003. Her research focuses on the microfoundations of interstate and intrastate conflict processes and outcomes, with a particular emphasis on international relations, political psychology, and group empathy in political contexts.

• Ph.D., Texas A&M University (2009)
• B.A., Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey (2003)

Dr. Sirin's work explores social divisions, empathy in political group dynamics, and conflict resolution frameworks. She is co-author of Seeing Us in Them (Cambridge University Press, 2021), which examines cross-cultural political identities and won four prestigious awards in 2022. Her publications span journals like Journal of Politics, Political Psychology, and International Studies Quarterly, contributing to experimental research and political behavior analysis.

• Recipient of the 2022 APSA Best Book Award
• Recipient of the 2022 ISPP David O. Sears Best Book on Mass Politics Award
• University of Texas System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award

Dr. Sirin served UTEP as Director of the Center for Faculty Leadership and Development (CFLD) from 2020 to 2022 and coordinated the Support for Online Learning (SOL) initiative during the pandemic. She is also an inaugural member of UTEP's Academy of Distinguished Teachers.