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Laura E. Seay 1 University Station A1800 Austin, TX 78712

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EDUCATION University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D. Candidate in Government (Expected May 2009) Subfields: Comparative Politics and International Relations Yale University, M.A. in African Studies (2002) Baylor University, B.A. in International Studies, cum laude (2000) DISSERTATION “Authority at Twilight: Civil Society, Social Services, and the State in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.” Abstract: This dissertation examines the role of civil society institutions as state substitutes in the social service sectors of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. I hypothesize that variations in the level of organizational cohesion in civil society organizations explain differences in the successful organization of social services by those groups. Based on case studies of eight civil society institutions in the Kivu provinces of the eastern D.R. Congo, I surmise that civil society groups with higher levels of organizational cohesion are more likely to successfully organize health and education structures in situations of state collapse, and thus to contribute to the maintenance of basic order in the state’s absence. Committee Members: Catherine Boone (Chair), John Higley, Henry Dietz, George Gavrilis, & Pierre Englebert PUBLICATION Chapter in an Edited Volume “Post-Conflict Authority and State Reconstruction in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo” in Raphael C. Njoku, ed., War and Peace in Africa: History, Nationalism, and the State (Trenton: Africa World Press, forthcoming Fall 2008). TEACHING EXPERIENCE Lecturer Positions U.T. Austin Department of Government, Assistant Instructor • Primary instructor for “Introduction to American and Texas Government” (2007present) Concordia University Texas, Adjunct Professor of Government, • Primary instructor for “Introduction to American Government” (2006-present)

Seay 2 Teaching Assistantships U.T. Austin Department of Government (2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07) • Teaching assistant for “Politics in Contemporary Africa,” “America as a Global Power,” “Politics of the Welfare State,” & “Politics of Civil Rights Law in the U.S.” •

Teaching assistant and Supplemental Instruction (active learning) discussion section leader for “Politics and Poverty” & “Introduction to American Government” (2003, 2004, 2007)

Yale University • Teaching Assistant for “Government and Politics in Africa” and “International Ideas and Institutions” (2001) •

Discussion section leader for “The Military, War, & Society in the United States, 1776-1991” (2001)

Other Teaching Experience Mentor, U.T. Austin Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program • Supervised an undergraduate student’s independent research project & mentored her through the graduate school admissions process (2007-08) U.T. Austin Department of Government Supervisor, Supplemental Instruction Program • Trained, supervised, and observed all departmental SI teaching assistants. Led weekly discussions of active learning techniques and new pedagogical research (2004-05) FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS Malcolm MacDonald Fellowship (2002-03, 2005-06) Malcolm MacDonald Summer Research Internship Fellowships (2004 & 2005) Patterson Fellowship for conference travel support (2003, 2004, & 2005) U.T. Austin Professional Development Award (conference travel, 2006 & 2007) U.T. Austin Departmental Travel Grant (conference travel, Spring & Fall 2008) Baylor University Presidential Scholarship (1996-97) RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Dissertation Field Research Democratic Republic of Congo: Goma (Summer 2005, Spring 2006, Summer 2007); Bukavu (Summer 2005, Summer 2007); Kinshasa (Spring 2006) Kenya: Nairobi (Summer 2005, Spring 2006) Rwanda: Kigali (Summer 2005) Uganda: Kampala (Spring 2006) Other Field Experience Cameroon: Yaoundé, Douala, Buea, Ngaoundéré, Dschang (2000) Kenya: Nairobi, Eregi (1998)

Seay 3

Research Assistantship Research Assistant for Professor Zoltan Barany (Summer 2004) • Researched the prevalence of modernization theory in early scholarship on African militaries for book project LANGUAGES French: Strong proficiency Kiswahili: Intermediate proficiency CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS “Governance and ‘Twilight Institutions’ in the D.R. Congo.” African Studies Association. Forthcoming 14 November 2008. “Civil Society, Authority, & State Reconstruction in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.” Poster presentation. American Political Science Association. Boston, MA. 30 August 2008. “State Collapse and the Assumption of Authority in the Eastern DR Congo.” Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, IL. 3 April 2008. “Post-Conflict Authority and State Reconstruction in the Eastern DR Congo.” University of Texas Wars and Conflicts in Africa conference. Austin, TX. 30 March 2008. "Non-State Actors, Health Care, and the Assumption of State Authority in the Eastern DR Congo." African Studies Association. San Francisco, CA. 16 November 2006. “State Authority in the Eastern Congo.” African Studies Association. Washington, DC. 18 November 2005. "Misperception and Missed Opportunity: US Policy and the Tanzania-Zambia Railway." African Studies Association. New Orleans, LA. 11 November 2004. "Elite Identity Formation and Institutional Collapse: The Case of Zimbabwe." International Political Science Association. Durban, South Africa. 2 July 2003. INVITED & SPONSORED LECTURES “Partnerships, International Aid, and the Millennium Development Goals in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.” Bread for the World Austin Offering of Letters Workshop. 12 February 2008. “Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Concordia University Texas Service Learning fundraiser. 8 February 2008.

Seay 4 “Church, Community, and Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Concordia University Texas Service Learning Week. 6 November 2007. “Church, Community, and Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” First Baptist Church of Austin. 19 September 2007. "'Of Africa and Golden Joys': On Paton, Waco, and Finding a Life's Work in an Unexpected Place." Baylor University Honors Program lecture for incoming students. 26 August 2002. “Beyond Somalia: U.S. Security Policy in Africa since the end of the Cold War.” Colloquium on International History and Security series, Yale International Security Studies. New Haven, CT. 13 February 2002. SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT & PROFESSION Panel Chair: African Studies Association (forthcoming 2008) Discussant: Midwest Political Science Association (2008) Conference administration: U.T. Austin Wars & Conflict in Africa conference (2008) U.T. Department of Government Graduate Student Organization Co-President (2005-06) PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Political Science Association African Studies Association Midwest Political Science Association