A faculty member in the Department of International Affairs since 2018, Powers is an expert in the political economy of international cooperation. His research asks fundamental questions about how states make, maintain, and sometimes violate their international commitments. He is particularly interested in how reputations are built in global affairs—how trust is earned or lost, and how perceptions of credibility shape interactions between allies and adversaries. His work offers insights into how reputational dynamics influence the durability of agreements and the likelihood of conflict or cooperation.

In addition to his scholarship, Powers is engaged in addressing the gap between academic research and policymaking. He notes that while scholarly research often takes years to complete, policymakers are typically working on timelines measured in weeks, days or even hours. “One of the challenges we face is figuring out how to deliver rigorous, evidence-based insights in a format and on a timeline that policymakers can actually use,” he says. His work interrogates how scholars can make their findings more accessible and usable for those in decision-making roles—without sacrificing depth or rigor. He also explores the incentives that drive selective uptake or even misinterpretation of research, highlighting the complex political dynamics that shape whether and how research informs real-world policy.

As he steps into the directorship at the Benson-Bertsch Center, Powers is eager to build on the Center’s existing strengths while expanding its scope. “The Center is already a leader in export controls, trade management, and energy security, but we have the capacity to do even more,” he says. “My hope is that we can broaden our impact by engaging more deeply with issues like international conflict, human security, and global cooperation.” He envisions a center that leverages the expertise of faculty across ��ž��and UGA to become a nationally recognized hub for cutting-edge research, policy engagement, and transformative student experiences.

What sets the Benson-Bertsch Center apart, according to Powers, is its unique approach to working with students. From undergraduates in the Security Leadership Program to graduate students in the Master of International Policy program, students are given the opportunity to work closely with faculty on meaningful, policy-relevant research. “Working with an organization like the Benson-Bertsch Center that produces research products for policy audiences has been an aspiration of mine for a long time,” he said. “Many of the opportunities that we give our students—especially the chance to contribute to real-world projects—are rare outside of doctoral programs. That speaks volumes about the investments UGA and ��ž��are willing to make in developing the next generation of policy leaders.”

Powers also expressed deep appreciation for the accomplishments of his predecessor, Justin Conrad. “I’m excited to build on the excellent work by Dr. Conrad and his team,” he said. “The Center is already a powerhouse, and I’m honored to have the chance to help shape its next chapter.”

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Margaret (Molly) Ariotti received her PhD from Pennsylvania State University with a focus in Comparative Politics, Political Methodology, and Geography. Her research interests include African politics (Francophone), institutions, government composition and formation, state capacity, local governance, bureaucracy, and public goods provision. Ariotti was a 2016-2017 recipient of the David L. Boren Fellowship of the National Security Education Program. She will be teaching Introduction to Comparative Politics and Comparative Political Institutions this fall.

Mollie Cohen received her PhD in Political Science from Vanderbilt University. From 2017-2018, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Latin American Public Opinion Project and a postdoctoral researcher with the Trans-Institutional Brazil Health Policy Project. Cohen’s research focuses on elections, public opinion, voting behavior, and political representation, especially in the Latin American region. She will be teaching Introduction to Comparative Politics this fall.

Emily Lawler received her PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University. Her research focuses include health economics, development economics, and applied microeconomics. Lawler is particularly interested in analyzing the effects of public policies on maternal and child health. Her dissertation work focuses on the effects of vaccination policies on health and health behaviors. Lawler is teaching Foundations of Policy Analysis this fall.

Michelle Lofton received her PhD in Public Administration from Syracuse University. She is also an alumna of UGA’s MPA program. Her research interests broadly explore the intersection of public finance and public management by investigating financial tools and techniques to better inform management, strategy, and policy decisions. Lofton will be teaching Public Management and Public Financial Administration this fall.

Ryan Powers received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2017. Prior to starting at the ��ž��, he was a Postdoctoral Associate with the Leitner Program in International and Comparative Political Economy at the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University. He specializes in international relations and comparative politics. This fall Powers is teaching Introduction to International Relations and the Graduate Pre-seminar in International Relations.

Geoffrey Sheagley received his PhD from the University of Minnesota where he has since been an Assistant Professor of Political Science. His research and teaching focuses on political behavior, public opinion, and political polarization. He is particularly interested in the factors that lead citizens to hold more accurate and thoughtful opinions as opposed to being more biased and misinformed about the political process. Sheagley is teaching Introduction to Political Science this fall.

Megan Turnbull received her PhD in Political Science from Brown University. She studies political order, violence, and democratization with an empirical focus in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Her book project examines the relationship between democracy and state-building through the lens of government strategies toward armed groups. Turnbull is teaching Introduction to Comparative Politics this fall.

Eric Zeemering is MPA Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy. His research investigates local governance and intergovernmental relations, including interlocal contracting for municipal service delivery and the design and performance of networks for local environmental governance. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Indiana University in 2007.

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