Judyth Twigg

Judyth Twigg is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Humanities and Sciences. Her work bridges political science and public health, with a regional focus on Eurasia. She holds a Ph.D. from MIT and has extensive international evaluation experience with global development institutions.

Her research interests include:

• Public health and health systems reform in Eurasia
• Demography and pandemic response
• Evaluation of multilateral development bank projects
• Human capital and public sector management
• International political economy

Dr. Twigg's recent publications reflect a strong trend in analyzing the intersection of politics, health, and conflict in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine and Russia. Her work combines policy analysis with on-the-ground evaluation, often addressing urgent global health challenges within complex political environments. She frequently contributes to high-impact platforms like The Lancet and the New York Times.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award (2005)
• VCU Elske v.P. Smith Distinguished Lecturer Award (2018)
• "Best of 2021" article award from Council on Foreign Relations for "Why Aren't Russians Getting Vaccinated"

Dr. Twigg has served as a consultant and evaluator for major international institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank. She is actively involved in advising and teaching, offering courses such as Diplomacy Lab and Ukrainian Politics and Society in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics. Her work combines academic rigor with real-world policy impact.

She is affiliated with several professional and policy organizations:

• Trustee, Eurasia Foundation
• Member, Council on Foreign Relations
• Consultant, World Bank Independent Evaluation Group
• Consultant, Asian Development Bank Independent Evaluation Department
• Consultant, Inter-American Development Bank Office of Evaluation and Oversight