Assistant Professor
Political Science & Geography

Charmaine Willis

757-683-3821

BATTEN ARTS & LETTERS
NORFOLK, 23529

Charmaine N. Willis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science & Geography and the Graduate Program in International Studies at Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University. She specializes in contentious politics and US foreign policy, with a regional focus on East and Southeast Asia. Her work has appeared in several academic journals, including the Journal of Political Science Education, Social Movement Studies, International Studies Perspectives, International Studies Review, Global Studies Quarterly, and Terrorism and Political Violence. Prior to joining ODU, Professor Willis was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Ph.D. in Political Science, University at Albany, State University of New York, (2023)

M.A. in Political Science, University at Albany, State University of New York, (2020)

M.A. in International Affairs, American University, (2011)

B.A. in Political Science, University of Southern Maine, (2007)

Expertise

Political Science
East/Southeast Asian politics, contentious politics, US foreign policy

Articles

Willis, C. N. and Preble, K. A. (2025). Learning at Any Age: Teaching Political Science to Older Adult Learners. Journal of Political Science Education.
Willis, C. N. Not Seeing the Forest for the Helicopters: UNESCO Recognition and Resistance to the US Military in Okinawa. Social Movement Studies.
Preble, K. A. and Willis, C. N. (2024). Trading with Pariahs: North Korean Sanctions and the Challenge of Weaponized Interdependence. Global Studies Quarterly 4 (2).
Greenhill, B. and Willis, C. N. (2023). States as Role Models: Why Some Countries’ Policies Matter More Than Others. International Studies Perspectives 24 (4) , pp. 377-396.
Pashayan, A., Kehlenbach, E., Ye, H., Mueller, G. and Willis, C. N. (2023). The Realities Facing Graduate Students: Before, During, and After the 2020 Covid Pandemic. PS: Political Science and Politics 56 (3) , pp. 391–397.
Amano, K., Sayuri Dominguez, M., Fraser, T., Gagnon, E., Incerti, T., Jang, J., McClean, C., Mitchell, A., Miyano, S., Moreshead, C., Saijo, H., Stanescu, D., Teraoka, A., Willis, C. N., Woo, Y., Yamagishi, H. and Crabtree, C. (2022). Field Research When There Is Limited Access to the Field: Lessons from Japan. PS: Political Science and Politics 56 (1) , pp. 99-105.
Irgil, E., Kreft, A., Lee, M., Willis, C. N. and Zvobgo, K. (2021). Field Research: A Graduate Student’s Guide. International Studies Review 23 (4) , pp. 1495-1517.
Jadoon, A., Lodoen, J. M., Willis, C. N. and Jahanbani, N. P. (2020). Breaking the Glass Ceiling?: Islamic State-Linked Female Militancy in Southeast Asia. Terrorism and Political Violence 34 (8) , pp. 1774-1796.
Willis, C. N. (2020). Democratization and civil society development through the perspectives of Gramsci and Tocqueville in South Korea and Japan. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics 5 (4) , pp. 371-384.
Asal, V., Willis, C. N., Linebarger, C. and Jahanbani, N. P. (2020). If the Lords Are So Revolting, Why Are Revolutions So Rare: The Peasant Game. PS: Political Science and Politics 54 (2) , pp. 331-335.
Hwang, I. and Willis, C. N. (2020). Protest by Candlelight: A Comparative Analysis of Candlelight Vigils in South Korea. Journal of Civil Society 16 (3) , pp. 260-272.
Asal, V., Miller, I. and Willis, C. N. (2020). System, State, or Individual: Gaming Levels of Analysis in International Relations. International Studies Perspectives 21 (1) , pp. 97-107.
Jahanbani, N. P. and Willis, C. N. (2019). The Ballot or the Bomb Belt: The Roots of Female Suicide Terrorism Before and After 9/11. Small Wars and Insurgencies 6-7 , pp. 1117-1150.
Jahanbani, N. P., Willis, C. N. and Lee, D. (2018). What We Wish We Knew: Reflections on Being a Teaching Assistant. Journal of Political Science Education 14 (3) , pp. 409-413.

Books

Preble, K. A. and Willis Ward, C. N. (2024). Trading with Pariahs: Trade Networks and the Failure of Economic Sanctions. Lexington Books.

Book Chapters

Willis, C. N., Roberts, J. W. and Asal, V. (2024). International Studies in Action: A Guide to Using Simulations in Political Science The Oxford Handbook of International Studies Pedagogy Oxford University Press.
Sorenson, L., Willis, C. N., Asal, V. and Breger, M. (2024). Paddling the Pupils: The Legality (or Not) of Corporal Punishment in Schools Children’s Rights in Crisis: Global and Multidisciplinary Perspectives Manchester University Press.
Asal, V., Topal, R. and Willis, C. N. (2022). Abstract Blitzing and Beyond: Teaching Political Methodology Teaching Graduate Political Methodology Edward Elgar Publishing.
Zvobgo, K., Willis, C. N., Lee, M., Kreft, A. and Irgil, E. (2022). Fieldwork for Graduate Students and Early Career Researchers: A Practical Guide Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond American Political Science Association.
  • 2024: Early Career Service Award, LGBTQ Caucus, American Political Science Association
  • 2023: Best Graduate Student Paper Award, Foreign Policy Section, American Political Science Association

Organizational Chart