Jodi S. Finkel
Department of Political Science
Loyola Marymount University
One LMU Drive, Suite 4100
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Tel: 310-338-7375, Fax: 310-338-1950
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science 2007-present
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science 2001-2007
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Political Science, UCLA June 2001
Master of Political Science, UCLA June 1996
Master of International Affairs, UCSD June 1992
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, UCLA June 1989
University of Barcelona, Spain 1989-1990
PUBLICATIONS
Books
“Judicial Reform as Political Insurance: Argentina, Peru and Mexico in the 1990s,” University of
Notre Dame Press, 2008.
Peer-Reviewed Articles
“Judicial Reform as Insurance Policy: Mexico in the 1990s: A Supreme Court
Willing and Able to Enter the Political Fray,” Latin American Politics and Society,
vol. 47, no. 1, Spring 2005, 87-113.
“Judicial Reform in Argentina: How Electoral Incentives Shape Institutional Change,”
Latin American Research Review, Vol. 39, no. 3, October 2004, 56-80.
“Supreme Court Decisions on Electoral Rules After Mexico’s 1994 Judicial Reform:
An Empowered Court,” Journal of Latin American Studies, Vol. 35, November 2003,
777-799.
Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
“Judicial Reform as an ‘Insurance Policy’: A Mexican Supreme Court Willing and
Able to Enter the Political Fray,” New Perspectives in Latin American Politics: Actors,
Institutions, and Practices, edited by William Smith and Felipe Aguero, Blackwell Publications,
forthcoming fall 2008.
Other Works
“Instituciones, el Estado de Derecho y la Gobernabilidad en Mexico Hoy,”
El Siglo de la Revolución Mexicana, INEHR, Mexico City, 2000, 135-137.
CURRENT RESEARCH/WORKING PAPER
My research continues to examine the rule of law and democratic development.
My current project explores the political power of the Ombudsman’s Office, a post
intended to protect citizens against human rights violations, in Mexico and Peru.
While the Peruvian Office has proved to be a proactive defender of rights; the Mexican
Ombudsman has acted to aggressively limit human rights protections.
COURSES TAUGHT
Comparative Politics
Latin American Politics
Politics of Economic Development
Human Rights Senior Seminar
Overcoming Poverty in the Developing World: Research and Internship
Advisor for numerous Independent Studies and Honors Theses
CONFERENCE PAPERS
American Political Science Association Conference, August 2007, and Latin American
Studies Association Conference, September 2007, “Promoting Human Rights in Latin
America: Explaining Why Peru’s Ombudsman’s Office Promotes Government Accountability
While Mexico’s Ombudsman Hinders It.
Comparative Judicial Research Group Conference, Naples, Italy January 2005.
“The Human Rights Ombudsman in Latin America: The Case of Peru.”
Latin American Studies Association Conference, Las Vegas, October 2004.
“Strengthening Democratic Accountability in Latin America: The Role of the
Human Rights Ombudsman.”
International Political Science Association Judicial Conference, London, Jan. 2004.
“Judicial Selection in Latin America Following the 1990s Reforms: The Role of the
National Judicial Council in Mexico, Argentina and Peru.”
American Political Science Association Conference, Philadelphia, August 2003.
“Judicial Reform in Argentina in the 1990s: Initiation, Delayed Implementation, and
the Probability of Reelection.”
Comparative Judicial Research Group, Parma, Italy, June 2003. “Mexico’s New
Supreme Court: Documenting the Empowerment of the Court via Post-reform
Judicial Rulings.”
Latin American Studies Association Conference, Dallas, March 2003. “Supreme
Court Decisions on Electoral Rules after Mexico’s 1994 Judicial Reform: An Empowered
Court.”
American Political Science Association Conference, San Francisco, September 2001.
“Courting Power in Peru: Explaining Variations in the Implementation of Peru’s
1990s Judicial Reforms.”
American Political Science Association Conference, Washington DC, September 2000.
“Measuring Judicial Power in Latin America: Supreme Courts and Electoral Rulings
in the Aftermath of the 1990s Reforms.”
Instituto Nacional de Estudios Históricos de la Revolución Mexicana, Mexico City,
June 2000. “Institutions and the Rule of Law in Mexico.”
Scientific Study of Courts Conference, College Station, Texas, October 1999.
“Judicial Reform in Latin America: Market Economies, Self-Interested Politicians,
and Judicial Power.”
American Political Science Association Conference, Atlanta, September 1999.
“Judicial Reform in Latin America: Market Economies, Self-Interested Politicians,
and Judicial Power.”
Latin American Studies Association Conference, Chicago, September 1998.
"Judicial Reform in Latin America: The Distribution of Political Power, Market Economies,
and Judicial Independence."
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, and AWARDS
Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, Outstanding Achievement Award, 2008
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, College Fellowship, Spring 2006
Marymount Institute, Faith and Justice Grant, Summer 2005
Loyola Marymount University, Summer Research Grant, 2004
Loyola Marymount University Summer Research Grant, 2002
UCLA Chancellor’s Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2000-2001
EXTERNAL SERVICE/ NONPROFITS
Founder, MuJER, Guatemala City, Guatemala www.mujer.cfsites.org
Literacy program for sex workers in the Red Light District of Guatemala City.
President, For A Better Today (Por Un Mejor Hoy), Mexico
Volunteer organization in Mexico City. www.hoycommunity.org
Board Member, The Democracy Council of Los Angeles
Promotes the rule of law, transparency and human rights in the developing world.
Board Member, ACLU Westside Chapter
EXTERNAL SERVICE/ACADEMIC
Journal Referee
Comparative Political Studies
Latin American Research Review
Latin American Politics and Society
Political Research Quarterly
The Latin Americanist
Book Reviewer
Comparative Political Studies, Vol. 35, No. 1, February 2002.
Panel Discussant, Panel Organizer
American Political Science Association
Comparative Judicial Research Group
Latin American Studies Association
Midwest Political Science Association
Western Political Science Association
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Committees
Chair, Junior Faculty Research Seminar, 2001-2006
LMU Students with Disabilities Committee 2003-2006
LMU Fulbright Committee 2003-2006
LMU Career Advisory Panel 2004-2006
Faculty Search Committee, Department of Political Science, 2007-6, 2006-7, 2005-6, 2005-4
Student Space Committee, Department of Political Science, 2006
Faculty Mentor
ACLU chapter, LMU-2008
LMU Coalition to Save Darfur, 2005-8
Amnesty International-LMU Chapter, 2006
College Republicans, 2006-2008
Armenian Student Association, 2003-2006
Latino Pre-Law Association, 2002-2006
Political Science Association, 2004-2007
UNICEF-LMU Chapter, 2004-2005