Staff

John D. Stephens, Gerhard E. Lenski, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology; Director, Center for European Studies, European Union Center of Excellence, and Trans-Atlantic Masters program; received his B.A. (1970) from Harvard University and his Ph.D. (1976) from Yale University. His main interests are comparative politics and political economy, with area foci on Europe, the Antipodes, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He teaches European politics and the political economy of advanced industrial societies. He is the author of The Transition from Capitalism to Socialism (1979) and coauthor of Democratic Socialism in Jamaica (with Evelyne Huber, 1986), Capitalist Development and Democracy (with Evelyne Huber and Dietrich Rueschemeyer, 1992; Outstanding Book Award, Political Sociology Section, ASA), Development and Crisis of the Welfare State (with Evelyne Huber, 2001; Best Book Award, Political Economy Section, APSA), and Democracy and the Left: Social Policy and Inequality in Latin America (with Evelyne Huber, 2012, Outstanding Book Award, Sociology of Development Section, ASA; Best Book Award, Political Economy of the World System Section, ASA). He has also contributed articles to, among others, The American Political Science Review, American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, The British Journal of Sociology, Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Journal of European Social Policy, and World Politics. He is currently working on a study of social investment policy in Europe and Latin America.

Katie Lindner joined us in 2015 from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin where she spent many years managing and organizing programs including TAM, Euromasters, German-Turkish Masters as well as the international doctoral program at the Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences. She focused on such aspects as program development, student and career services, international recruitment, and collaboration with international partners. Katie has a BA in International Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MA in Trans-Atlantic Studies (TAM Program) from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Before moving to Berlin, she worked at the International Visitors Council in RTP, which is where she discovered her love of organizing programs and international education. In 2015, she moved back to Chapel Hill with her husband and three children after sixteen years in Berlin, and has been enjoying the North Carolina sunshine immensely.

Inspiration: The creativity, drive, and the accomplishments of the TAM students and grads. I know it sounds cheesy-fake, but it’s true.

In free time: I love to hike with my husband, daughter, and our three dogs.

Committed to: the inter-institutional partnerships and experiential learning involved in TAM. The opportunities TAM provides to young people are life-changing, and it is fascinating to be involved in such an innovative international educational project. I love working with the TAM applicants, students and alumni!

Favorite European Food: Pierogi- pan-fried filled dumpling wrapped in unleavened dough.

In free time: I play board games, hike, dance, and watch movies.

Favorite thing about CES: The focus on creating shared experiences that lead to a better, more just future for all.

Prior Work: I received my B.A. (2015) in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill. Previously, I served two terms in the AmeriCorps program and worked as an operations coordinator for a nonprofit specializing in homelessness prevention.