معرفی
Jakana Thomas is an Associate Professor at the University of California San Diego, holding dual appointments in the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Political Science. She previously served as an Associate Professor at Michigan State University's Department of Political Science. Her research focuses on political violence, rebel group behavior, and gender dynamics in conflict. She leads the California Violence Experiences Survey (CalVEX) project and holds the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair in International Justice and Human Rights.
Thomas earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University (2012), with earlier degrees from the same institution (M.A., 2009) and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (B.A., 2007). Her work appears in top journals like the American Journal of Political Science and American Political Science Review.
Her research interests include women’s participation in violent organizations, peace process determinants, and gender-based violence in the U.S. She co-edits the Cambridge Studies in Gender and Politics book series, bridging academic and policy-oriented scholarship.
Key projects include the CalVEX survey analyzing violence experiences in California and the Women in Armed Rebellion Dataset (WARD). Her awards reflect recognition of her contributions to international justice and gender studies.
Thomas advises on policy issues related to domestic and international violence, leveraging interdisciplinary methods to address complex security challenges.
