Robert L. Ostergard, Jr., PhD

Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Nevada, Reno

Learn about me

Research Focus

My current areas of research focus on global health security and human rights, climate change and global health, and epidemic and pandemic politics, with a regional specialization in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of my research is highly interdisciplinary and has appeared in journals and volumes in political science, human rights, business, economics, and medical research outlets.

This approach has provided me the opportunity to work with several agencies and institutions including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA), UNAIDS, the Council on Foreign Relations, the US Department of Defense, and the Canadian Ministry of Defence.
I am currently engaged in multiple global health research projects that you can see detailed on my research page.

Background and Experience

I am currently Associate Professor of Political Science (with affiliation to multiple institutes and programs) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). I completed my undergraduate work at the University of Massachusetts (Boston). After completing my MA and PhD in Political Science at Binghamton University, I accepted a postdoctoral fellowship with the Institute of Global Cultural Studies and later served as the Associate Director of the institute before coming to UNR.

I teach both undergraduate and graduate courses in political science and am the recipient of multiple teaching, advising, and mentoring awards at the college, university, and system-wide levels. I have held multiple administrative positions at UNR and continue to support the department and college in several assignments and appointments.

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