How IHS Program Officers Can Help You

One of the goals of IHS is to assist alumni graduate students to become professors. IHS has Program Officers who work with specific disciplines.  They are: Dr. Nigel Ashford (myself) for political science, Dr. Bill Glod for philosophy and political theory, Jeanne Hoffman for law, and Dr. Phil Magness for history and policy. (We are currently looking for an Economics Program Officer).   Even if you are not in one of those disciplines, we can try to help. We have a formal Mentoring Program where Program Officers will work you directly and individually to provide you with advice and support.  There are three main areas where we may be able to help.

1. Scholarship

IHS has an extensive network of scholars, both faculty and graduate students.

(1)We can identify books and articles that contribute to your research interests.

(2) We can connect you with faculty who work in similar areas and might be interested in your work.

(3)We can connect you to graduate students with similar research interests. This may be done at IHS seminars, or via email. 

To do this we need to know your research interests and/or dissertation topic.

2. Help with Graduate School

Graduate students have a high dropout rate, with many failing to complete their dissertation. IHS can give you resources and advice to avoid the pitfalls,  make the most of your graduate school experience, and place you in a good position to go on the job market.

(1) KosmonsOnline.org has  a mass of mentoring resources

(2) IHS run Academic Career Development Seminars, both for early graduate students and late, for just before you go on the job market. They give advice on publishing, teaching, your job talk, mock job interviews etc

(3) Our Program Officers can give disciplinary advice e.g. on which conferences to attend, or where to publish your work.

3. Personal and  Intellectual Development

We can help you improve your skills, such as giving conference presentations, writing academic publications, and networking.  You can find help at:

(1) KosmsosOnline

(2) IHS conferences, where you may have the opportunity to present your work, or hear about academic networking

(3) From Program Officers, who can give you advice and feedback e.g. on your cv. 

If you can identify areas that for which you need assistance, ask a Program Officer.

For more ways IHS can help you, visit the Resources for Graduate Students page.