Peter Sandby-Thomas

Peter Sandby-Thomas is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham (UK) and teaches courses including PSC 161: International Relations and PSC 284: Model UN, alongside online courses like PSC 249: Intermediate Writing in Political Science. His academic career spans teaching roles at the University of Nottingham and the University of Winchester in the UK.

Research Interests: Dr. Sandby-Thomas specializes in international relations, with a focus on China's foreign policy and political legitimacy since the post-Mao era. His work examines the Chinese Communist Party’s strategies to consolidate domestic and global influence, including media soft power initiatives and representations of China in U.S. political discourse. His research has been published in The China Quarterly and Political Studies.

Teaching & Recognition: He facilitates critical analysis of international politics, emphasizing power dynamics, economic relations, and global challenges. In 2025, his Model UN program earned an Honorable Mention Award following a briefing with the Sierra Leone embassy.

Contact: Office: Liberal Arts 309 | Phone: 508-999-9141 | Email: psandbythomas@umassd.edu