Nina Srinivasan Rathbun

Dr. Nina Srinivasan Rathbun is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California (USC), specifically within the School of International Relations. She has held various academic roles at USC since 2012, progressing from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, and currently serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies. Her career also includes prior positions at institutions like Indiana University and The Ohio State University, as well as a stint as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. State Department (2003–2005).

Dr. Rathbun earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley in June 2003. Her research focuses on international security, particularly multilateral nuclear nonproliferation policies, political economy and democratization in post-Communist Europe, NATO and EU expansion, nuclear proliferation on the Indian subcontinent, and international relations pedagogy and data literacy. These interests are reflected in her extensive publications and conference presentations.

She has received numerous awards and grants, including multiple USC Faculty Development Grants (2015–2023), the Phi Sigma Kappa Faculty Teaching Award (2011–2012), and grants from the USC Libraries and Center for Scholarly Technology to enhance teaching and research literacy. Dr. Rathbun actively contributes to academic governance, serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies and participating in numerous university committees. As faculty advisor, she mentors students on fellowships and internships, organizing panels and outreach sessions for competitive opportunities like Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships.