Jeffrey VanDenBerg

Jeffrey VanDenBerg is a Professor of Political Science and serves as Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at Drury University. He also directs the Middle East Studies program and coordinates the Model United Nations program.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Political Science from Miami University (OH), 1990
• M.A. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati, 1995
• Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati, 2000

Dr. VanDenBerg specializes in Arab politics and Middle Eastern international relations, conducting field research in Jordan through interviews with prime ministers and government officials. His scholarly work appears in Security Studies, Arab Studies Quarterly, and Canadian Journal of History. He has co-directed study abroad programs to Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Greece, integrating experiential learning with regional expertise.

His recent publications analyze U.S. decision-making in Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly executive-legislative dynamics in foreign policy crises like the 2013 Syria intervention debate. This reflects his consistent focus on power structures, regional governance, and American foreign policy formulation within volatile geopolitical contexts.

Major recognitions include:

• Fulbright Teaching Fellowship at University of Ljubljana (2012)
• U.S. Department of State Regional Travel Award for Bosnia-Herzegovina lectures (2012)
• Drury University Faculty Award for Excellence in Liberal Learning (2009)
• Global Research Initiative grant for Turkish election studies (2007)
• USIA/NMERTP Pre-Doctoral Fellowship (1996)
• American Center of Oriental Research dissertation fellowship

Through Model UN leadership and Middle East Studies direction, Dr. VanDenBerg mentors undergraduates in diplomatic simulation and regional analysis. His research grants facilitate fieldwork that frequently incorporates student researchers in international political studies.