Sheryl L. Shirley

Sherylbio_edited-1

Professor of Political Science

B.A., California State Polytechnical Institute-Pomona; M.A., Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Email: sshirley@plymouth.edu
Homepage: http://oz.plymouth.edu/~sshirley/

Contact information

603-535-2498
Rounds Hall 312
MSC # 39

About Professor Shirley

Sheryl L. Shirley is Professor of Political Science at Plymouth State University and has focused her research and teaching on human rights and social justice.  Dr. Shirley received her doctorate (1997) and master’s (1989) degrees from the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin.  She has published in the International Journal on World Peace,  the National Women’s Studies Association Journal and presented her research at international conferences of the International Studies Association (ISA) and the Latin American Studies Association (LASA).  Her current research focuses on human rights and international development, specifically on how lending by multilateral financial institutions impacts indigenous populations and women.  Dr. Shirley currently serves as Commissioner of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, New Hampshire’s fair employment practices agency.

Publications/Presentations/Exhibitions

  • 2009   “All that Glitters: Guatemalan Gold Processing and Dreams of Democratic Development” with Katherine Donahue.  Paper presented at the 28th Annual Congress of the Latin American Studies Association, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 11-14.
  • 2008 “Do “Good” Fences Make Good Neighbors?: A Comparative Study of the Israeli-Palestinian and U.S.-Mexican Militarized Borders” with Filiz Otucu.  Paper presented at the Annual Conference of NESTVAL, Plymouth, New Hampshire, November 1, 2008.
  • 2008  “Walls: Securing Nations or Violating Human Rights?” Paper delivered at the International Conference on Nationalism and Human Rights, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey, June 27-29.
  • 2008    “Outsourcing Counterinsurgency: Revisiting Cold War Counterinsurgency in Latin America.” Paper presented at the 49th Annual Conference of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, California, March 26-March 29.
  • 2006 “Counterterror Running Wild: Lessons from Cold War U.S. Foreign Policy toward Latin America.” Paper presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the International Studies Association- New England and Northeastern Political Science Association, Boston, MA., November 9-11.

Awards or recognition

  • 2007 and 2010 Appointments by Governor John H. Lynch to the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights
  • 1999 Recipient of the Theodora J. Kalikow Award

Courses Taught

  • Global Problems, Power, and Politics
  • American Foreign Policy
  • Women in World Politics
  • Latin American Politics

Featured in Plymouth Magazine

Example Image

Faculty Forum: Irene Cucina

Professor Irene Cucina has been teaching in the Department of Health and Human Performance since 1998. Prior to coming to Plymouth State, she had a rewarding career as a high school health and physical education teacher and coach in Newton, MA. Her commitment to students and learning has been recognized by her peers through a [...]

Example Image

Another Way to Serve

“It was like moving to a foreign country with a completely different culture,” says PSU student Patrick O’Sullivan. The 26-year-old veteran isn’t referring to his time in Iraq as a motor transport operator in the Army Reserve. He’s talking about coming home. O’Sullivan joined the Army Reserve right out of high school, at an age [...]

Example Image

Remembering Gene Savage ’58

On May 14, 2012, New Hampshire lost a gifted educator, respected leader, and devoted friend. From his earliest days in education as a high school teacher, coach, and director of guidance, through his post as director of admissions at the University of New Hampshire, and later through his various administrative positions within the University System [...]