معرفی
Laura Brunell is a Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Gonzaga University, with additional affiliation in interdisciplinary programs. She specializes in post-communist transitions, with particular expertise in Eastern European politics and gender studies.
Her research interests focus on domestic violence policy development in post-communist societies, transnational feminist networks, and the political geography of social welfare systems. She has conducted extensive field research in Poland and has expanded her geographic focus to include Russia, Eurasia, and China. Her work bridges political science, gender studies, and Slavic studies, examining how historical contexts shape contemporary policy development.
Brunell's publications reveal a consistent thread examining how civil society, state institutions, and international networks interact in shaping domestic violence policy across post-communist Europe. Her work demonstrates particular attention to regional variations in policy development and the role of transnational advocacy networks in driving reform.
Her teaching philosophy embraces the Ignatian principle of accompaniment, emphasizing shared learning journeys. She has led numerous international experiential learning trips to China (2017), Russia (2016), Poland (2015), and Germany (2015), integrating classroom learning with real-world observation.
Brunell has delivered lectures on diverse topics including citizenship theory, sex trafficking, European Union politics, and the history of communism in Eastern Europe. Her personal interests reflect her professional focus, with deep engagement in Slavic cultures, folk art, and travel throughout post-communist societies.
