Kristen Aanstoos

Kristen Aanstoos is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and affiliate of the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at the University of Cincinnati for the 2024-25 academic year. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, an MA in Conflict, Security, and Development from King's College London, and a BSFS in International Politics from Georgetown University.

Her research centers on the role of women and gender in peace processes and political outcomes in post-conflict states. She examines how different types of women's participation in peace negotiations affect women's political empowerment and gender-based violence in post-conflict societies. Her work also extends to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda; international security; military learning; and East Asian security. She employs mixed-methods approaches including statistical analysis, case studies, and elite interviews with peace process participants.

Aanstoos's recent publications demonstrate her interdisciplinary approach spanning political science, gender studies, and international relations. Her work shows consistent focus on gender dynamics in conflict resolution, with recent articles examining women's political representation after conflict, military learning processes in NATO operations, and geopolitical impacts on East Asian supply chains. Her research trajectory reveals a progression from immigration policy studies toward specialized expertise in gender-inclusive peace processes.

Her research has been supported by prestigious fellowships including:

• Kugelman Citizen Peacebuilding Research Fellowship
• Institute for Humane Studies Fellowship
• University of California Office of the President grant

Prior to academia, Aanstoos served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, with postings in Hong Kong, Doha, and Washington, DC. Her teaching portfolio includes Women and Politics, Feminist International Relations, International Relations Theory, and various writing-intensive courses on international humanitarianism and ethics. She is currently developing two major book projects: one examining the effects of women's participation in peace processes on political empowerment, and another investigating connections between peace processes and gender-based violence in post-conflict states.