Julie M. Bunck

Julie M. Bunck is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville, with expertise in Latin American Politics, Cuban Studies, Drug Trafficking, and International Relations. She holds a PhD from the University of Virginia (1988), an MA from Indiana University (1983), and a BA from Kansas State University (1982). Her research focuses on Central American drug trafficking, Cuban socio-cultural policies, and international law. She has authored four books, including Bribes, Bullets, and Intimidation: Drug Trafficking and the Law in Central America (2012), and numerous articles in journals like the Review of International Studies and Hague Journal of Diplomacy.

• Awards & Honors: Three-time Fulbright Scholar (Mexico, Japan, Central America), University Distinguished Honors Professor (2002-2008), Favorite Faculty Award (2008), and multiple grants from the Ford Foundation and Earhart Foundation.
• Teaching: Courses include Honors Political Science, International Law, and Latin American Comparative Politics.
• Grants & Fellowships: Includes Agency for International Development IPA appointment (1996), Social Science Research Council Advanced Research Grant (1995), and Bradley Foundation Fellowship (1986-87).

Her work bridges academia and policy, with impactful contributions to understanding drug trafficking dynamics and Cuban cultural transformations. She has advised on U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and served on the Board of Advisors for the Patterson School of Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky. Beyond academia, she maintains a southern Indiana horse farm and is an avid runner and rider.