معرفی
Dr. Jennifer Brass serves as Associate Professor at Indiana University's Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), specializing in African governance, NGO dynamics, and sustainable development. Her research examines state-society relations through fieldwork across Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Djibouti.
Her educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley (2010)
- M.A. in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley (2004)
- B.S. (magna cum laude) in Foreign Service, Georgetown University (1999)
Brass's scholarship centers on non-governmental organizations in African political development, analyzing how NGOs influence service provision, democratic participation, and state capacity. Her award-winning book Allies or Adversaries? NGOs and the State in Africa established foundational frameworks for understanding NGO-state tensions. Current research synthesizes global NGO effectiveness evidence while investigating renewable energy governance in developing economies, revealing connections between electrification and political engagement.
Recent publications demonstrate methodological diversity spanning systematic reviews, spatial analysis of energy infrastructure, and critical discourse studies of development terminology. Her work increasingly addresses ethical dimensions of field research in crisis contexts, particularly pandemic-era data collection challenges in East Africa.
Her scientific recognition includes:
- 2023 & 2017 Trustees Teaching Awards
- 2018 ARNOVA Outstanding Book Award
- 2016 Outstanding Junior Faculty Award at Indiana University
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
- ISTR Emerging Scholar Award of Merit (2012)
Brass mentors students through SPEA courses including NGO Management for International Development and the Honors Thesis Workshop, while collaborating with researchers on energy governance projects across Africa. Her field research in four African nations informs both scholarly publications and media contributions to outlets like The Economist and Tanzanian Citizen.
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