Professor of Political Science
Hope College
Holland, MI
616-395-7544 beard@hope.edu
15 October 2010
EDUCATION
& PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Ph.D. Political Science 2006 Michigan State University
Dissertation: Democratic Orientations in Emerging African
Democracies Do Religion and Gender Matter?
Dissertation Committee: Michael Bratton, Chair; Charles
Ostrom; Jeff Riedinger; Brian Silver (Political Science)
Comprehensive Exams: Comparative Politics; Public Policy
TEACHING
FIELDS
Masters Public Policy & Administration 2005 Michigan State University
Concentration: International Development
Bachelor of Arts Political Science 2000
Honors Graduate
Minor: Third World Development Studies
Primary: Political Science
Calvin College
COURSES TAUGHT
2007-Present Hope College, Holland, MI
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
POL 110 Gender, Conflict, & Peace
POL 110 Whose Reality? Whose Development? Multiple Perspectives and Practices on
Global Political Development
2001-2006
POL 151 Introduction to Global Politics
POL 235 Introduction to Public Policy and Administration
POL 295 Introduction to African Politics
POL 351 International Law, Organizations &Systems
POL 352 United Nations
POL 490 Independent Study: Model U.N.
POL 490 Independent Study – Internships
POL 490 Independent Study – May Term: Uganda
POL 492 Washington DC Preparatory Class
IDS 100 First Year Seminar
Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI
Instructor, Department of Political Science
Introduction to International Relations

Teaching Assistant, Department of Political Science
Public Policy Analysis (Assistant to Malcolm Goggin)
Social Differentiation and Inequality (Assistant to Alan Posner)
Introduction to International Relations (Assistant to David Lektzian)
Public Policy Analysis (Assistant to Belinda C. Davis)
Teaching Assistant, James Madison College
Islam and World Politics (Assistant to Mohammed Ayoob)
Teaching Assistant, Department of Resource Development
International Development and Sustainability (assistant to Jeffrey Riedinger)
EMPLOYMENT
& PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
May 2010
May 2010
Faculty participant, Writing Workshop, From Informal Writing to Formal Writing
Assignments
Faculty participant, Write A Grant Workshop
Fall 2010 Faculty participant, Hope College Faculty Book Discussion Groups
Book: To Change the World, James Davison Hunter
Spring 2010 Faculty participant, Hope College Faculty Book Discussion Groups
Book: I See Satan Fall Like Lightening, Renee Girard,
Fall 2009 Faculty participant, Hope College Faculty Book Discussion Groups
Book: Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling ,
June 2009
October, 2008 Faculty Participant, GLCA Academic Leadership and Innovation (GALI) Institute,
Explored challenges to liberal arts colleges; Considered dynamics of leadership and decisions making from faculty and administrative perspectives; Identified and grappled with challenges facing home institution
2008-2009
Faculty Writing Camp,
Revised articles for publication submission; collaborated with colleagues on scholarly writing; met with grant administrator regarding proposal creation and refinement
Teaching Enhancement Workshop Follow-Up Dinners
Continual learning on topics to enhance teaching, including technology in the classroom, creating service learning opportunities through courses, and the services provided for my and student research through the library
July 2008 Faculty Participant, CrossRoads Faculty Summer Seminar,– Engaging Students in the
Classroom instituted new activities, including in-class formal debates, in response to the readings and discussions at the seminar; Shared engagement practices with CrossRoads
2008 Faculty Participant, Center For Faithful Leadership Presentation

Follow-up: working with CFL to create independent study or internship opportunities for
CFL students as part of the Political Science Department’s Model United Nations
Program
June 2008 Faculty Writing Camp,
Revised articles for publication submission; collaborated with colleagues on scholarly writing
January 17-19, 2008 Faculty Participant, Midwest Faculty Seminar in Global Feminisms,
Global Feminisms: Are Women's Rights Human Rights?
Actively engaged with speakers on global feminisms from a diverse cross-section of academic disciplines; Discussed complexities of global feminisms in today’s world with scholars from across disciplines; Honed new understandings of feminist theories for use in scholarship, classroom instruction and curriculum development
August 2006 – June 2007 Research Associate, Public Policy Associates, Lansing, MI
Used research skills to investigate a broad range of public policy topics; Lead Research
Associate evaluating Michigan Education Trust marketing effectiveness; Investigated avenues to develop and oversee Career Education Consumer Report for the state of
Michigan; Serving as consultant on as needed basis with Public Policy Associates on an on-going basis.
August 2002-August 2006 Document Control and Website Manager, Graduate Assistant,
Afrobarometer Survey Research Project ,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Edited and published working papers, briefing papers and other reports using
Afrobarometer Survey Data through the Afrobarometer website; assisted in research and data collection
September 2005 Pre-Dissertation Researcher, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Observed all aspects of in-the-field- public opinion survey collection with Round 3
Afrobarometer Public Opinion Survey Research Project; Carried out interviews with leaders of religious organizations
May 2002-August 2002 Policy Analysis and Community Development Intern
Mission: Moving Mountains, Nakuru, Kenya
Conducted research relating to community site selection; Engaged in cultural and organizational learning; Integrated observations from development sites in Uganda and
Kenya; Networked with leaders from local, national and governmental entities
January 2002-May2002 Research Assistant ,
Center for the Advanced Study of International Development (CASID),
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Assistant to Jeffrey Riedinger, Co-Director of CASID; Assisted in data collection for
Michigan State University’s Title VI review and evaluation
August 2001 – January 2002 Research Assistant , Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan
Assistant to Malcolm Goggin through a grant from the Rochester Institute; assisted in data collection on cross-state Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives and 1996 Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) reform

January 1999 – May 1999 Exchange student, Daystar University, Athi River and Nairobi, Kenya
GRANTS, HONORS, & FELLOWSHIPS
5/10-8/10 Hope College/Towsley Consideration Summer Research Funding
5/10-8/10 Political Science Department Student Research Funding
( Student: Sarah Wenz - The Role of Resources in the Development of Sub-Saharan Africa –
Interaction of Gender, Water, and Civil Society in Conflicts and Democracy )
5/10-8/10 Jacob E. Nyenhuis Faculty – Student Research Development Grant
( Student: Allison Bryan - “Explaining the Possibilities and Processes of African Political, Social and Economic Development through Theory Application: Which theory most accurately describes the historical development paths and current development stages of Kenya and Uganda—
Modernization, Dependency or Human Empowerment?” )
5/10-8/10 Carl Frost Center for Social Science Research Faculty – Student Collaborative
Research Grant
( Student: Kevin Haley - Role of Resources in the Development of Sub-Saharan Africa – Land,
Conflict and Democracy )
5/09- 8/09
5/08 -8/09
Jacob E. Nyenhuis Faculty Development Grant
Carl Frost Center for Social Science Research Faculty – Student Collaborative
Research Grant
(Students – Stephanie Bogema and Alison Bernard)
5/03-present Pi Alpha Alpha: National Public Administration Honor Society
8/01 - 5/04
5/02 - 8/02
Title VI Fellowship of Language and Area Studies
Michigan State University Graduate Student Research Enhancement Award
8/99 - 5/00
3/98 - 5/00
PUBLICATIONS
John VanDellen Memorial Scholarship in Political Science
Pi Sigma Alpha: National Political Science Honor Society
Beard. Virginia Parish. 2010. "Best Practices in Policy Creation and Administration in
Meeting Housing Needs for People with Disabilities and their Families: A Case Study in
Ottawa County, Michigan." Journal of Poverty & Public Policy. Volume 2, Issue 2, May
2010: Berkley.
Beard, Virginia Parish. 2011. “Kenya” Global Encyclopedia of Religion through SAGE
Publishers, Forthcoming .
Beard, Virginia Parish. 2010. “Globalization and Development.” International
Encyclopedia of Political Science through CQ Press, a division of Congressional
Quarterly, Inc., Forthcoming .
Beard, Virginia Parish. 2010. “Gender Issues.” International Encyclopedia of Political
Science through CQ Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly, Inc., Forthcoming .
Beard, Virginia Parish. 2010. “Gender and Globalization.” International Encyclopedia of
Political Science through CQ Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly, Inc.,
Forthcoming .
Beard, Virginia Parish. 2008. Democratic Orientations in Emerging African
Democracies: Do Gender and Religion Matter? VDM Verlag.
Beard, Virginia Parish. 2006. Review of Gender Mainstreaming in the Multilateral
Trading System: A handbook for policy-makers and other stakeholders, by Marianna

Williams, 2003, London, UK: Commonwealth Secretariat. Michigan State University
Women & International Development Program Bulletin , Vol. 21, No. 2 (Winter 2006):
16-18.
PAPERS PRESENTED & INVITED ADDRESSES
Keynote Speaker. “The Role of Women and Civil Society in Peaceful Democratic
Development in the African Context.” 2nd Annual
GRCC Peace Studies Conference
Conflict Resolution: Challenges, Successes, and Failures of Supranational and
International Organizations. September 27-29, 2010
Grand Rapids, Michigan
"Conflict, Resources, Identity Politics and the Democratic Development of Sub-Saharan
Africa - Land, Water, and Religious Identity in Kenya. " Paper accepted for presentation at the Annual Meetings of the Religious Research Association, Baltimore, October 28-31,
2010.
“Development of Sub-Saharan Africa - Land, Water, Conflict and Democracy in Kenya.”
Paper accepted for presentation at the 2010 Annual Meetings of the American Political
Science Association, Washington DC, September 2-5, 2010.
"Including Emerging African Democracies in the Conversation on the Compatibility of
Islam and Democracy: Case Studies of Kenya and Senegal." Paper accepted for presentation at the 2010 Annual Meetings of the American Political Science Association,
Washington DC, September 2-5, 2010.
“Post-Conflict Peace-Building and Reconciliation: The Roles of Gender and Religion in
Post-Genocidal Rwanda.” With Stephanie Bogema, Paper presented at the 2010 Annual
Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 21-215, 2010.
“Constitutional Reform, Land Access and Identity Politics: Assessing the 2007 Post-
Electoral Conflict in Kenya." Paper presented at the 2010 Annual Meetings of the
Midwest Political Science Association, April 21-25, 2010.
“Finding My Place in the Belhar Confession.” Hope College Provost’s Luncheon,
September 23, 2009
“Religious Bodies, Gender Relations and Politics in Kenya: The Prospects for Peace-
Building and Democratization in Africa.” Paper presented at the 2009 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 2009.
“Best Practices in Policy Creation and Administration in Meeting Housing Needs for
People with Disabilities and their Families.” Paper presented at the 2009 Annual
Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 2009.
“Religious Bodies, Gender Relations and Politics in Kenya: The Prospects for
Democracy in Africa.” Paper prepared for the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion/Religious Research Association, October17-19,
Louisville, Kentucky

“Religious Bodies, Gender Relations, and Politics in Kenya: the Prospects for
Democracy in Africa.”
Paper accepted along with Alison Bernard, student researcher, for presentation at the Great Lakes Colleges Association Conference on Transnational
Feminisms, Transnational Dialogues: De-centering the Academic Debate on Global
Feminisms, September 26-28, 2008 , Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio
“Women’s Movements, State Building, and the Growth of Civil Society: A Case Study of the Importance of Gender Equality in the Sudan.” Paper accepted along with Stephanie
Bogema, student researcher, for presentation at the Great Lakes Colleges Association
Conference on Transnational Feminisms, Transnational Dialogues: De-centering the
Academic Debate on Global Feminisms, September 26-28, 2008 , Kenyon College,
Gambier, Ohio
"Religion and Pools of Support for Democracy in Africa: Does Support for Military Rule
Contradict Support for Democracy in Emerging African Democracies Among Muslims?
" Poster accepted at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Political Science
Association, Boston, MA, Aug 2008
“Democratic Attitudes in Emerging African Democracies: The Role of Religion and Prior
Regime Experience in Fostering Support for Democracy.” Paper presented at the 2008
Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 2008.
“Gendered Political Values: Gender Equality and Female Leadership as Political Values among African Christians and Muslims.” Paper presented at the 2007 Meetings of the
Midwest Political Science Association.
“Cultural versus Institutional Explanations in African Democratic Political Orientations.”
Poster presented at the 2006 Annual Meetings of the American Political Science
Association.
“Democratic Behaviors in Emerging African Democracies: The Role of Gender and
Religion.” Paper presented at the 2006 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science
Association
“Protesting as a Political Behavior Among Kenyan Women: The Role of Religion.”
Paper presented at the 2006 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science
Association.
“Democratic Values in Emerging African Democracies: The Role of Gender and
Religion.”
“Women’s Representation in Kenya: Gender Quotas in the Kenyan Constitution.” Paper presented at the 2004 Annual Meetings of the African Studies Association

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
September 2008 – Present Student-Faculty Collaborative Research
Summer 2010 (continued Fall 2010)
Student: Sarah Wenz - The Role of Resources in the Development of Sub-
Saharan Africa – Interaction of Gender, Water, and Civil Society in
Conflicts and Democracy )
Summer 2010 (continued Fall 2010)
Human Empowerment?” )
Summer 2010 (continued Fall 2010)
( Student: Kevin Haley - Role of Resources in the Development of Sub-Saharan
Africa – Land, Conflict and Democracy )
Fall 2009
( Student: Allison Bryan - “Explaining the Possibilities and Processes of African
Political, Social and Economic Development through Theory Application: Which theory most accurately describes the historical development paths and current development stages of Kenya and Uganda—Modernization, Dependency or
Fall 2009
Student: Stephanie Bogema – "Women’s Movements, State Building, and the
Growth of Civil Society: A Case Study of the Importance of Gender Equality in
Peace-Building in the Sudan"
Student: Allison Bryan – " Political Development Theories Applied in the
African Context: Which is most accurate for Kenya and Ugandan—
Modernization, Dependency or Human Empowerment Theory?"
Spring 2009 Student: Stephanie Bogema – " Post-Conflict Peace-Building and Reconciliation:
The Roles of Gender and Religion in Post-Genocidal Rwanda"
Spring 2009 Student: Lauren Johnson Maat – "Human Trafficking and the Role of
Intergovernmental Organizations"
Spring 2009 Student: Nathan Magrath – "From Notion to Nation: Complications and
Implications of a New Southern Sudan"
Spring 2009 Student : Sara Aardema – " Empowering Women, Empowering Communities:
Education, Economic Opportunities and Health Care as Avenues for Community
Transformation in the Developing World"
September 2010 – Present Collaborative Researcher with Dr. Paula Book , Network of Followers
Evaluating political awareness and sophistication related to exposure through media outlets
September 2010-Present
June 2010
Book Review Editor, Journal of Poverty & Public Policy
Research, Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisii – Kenya
Evaluation of Aqua Clara, International as a civil society organization
Data collection – Impact of Resources on Political Stability in Kenya
September 2008-October 2009 Research Consultant, Disability Network,
Investigated unmet housing needs in Ottawa County for people with disabilities and their families and caregivers through surveys, focus groups and community input meetings
August 2008 Faculty Investigation, Rwanda,
Accompanied Hope students and Rwandan Non-profit founder to Rwanda to ascertain possible relationship between Hope College and a start-up, indigenous non-profit for academic summer terms. The first summer term is being conducted June, 2010 by two additional Hope faculty members.

June 2008 Evaluation Research, Kenya,
Met with committee members, elders, students, community members and non-profit staff to create an overview report regarding concerns surrounding non-profit decisions in a local community. Report was disseminated to focus group participants, decision-makers in the community and non-profit staff and board members.
May 2008 May Term, Uganda
Piloted two social science students participating in research alongside pre-healthcare service students in Mukono, Uganda
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Political Science Association
Midwest Political Science Association
Religious Research Association
African Studies Association
Christians in Political Science
Michigan Evaluation Association
American Association of University Women
SERVICE TO COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT
September 2010 – Present
October 2010 – Present
Collaborative Scholar Center for Faithful Leadership
Liaison Residential Life Board
October 2010
May 2010 – Present
Reviewer
Participant
Hope College Fulbright Committee
Campus Life Board
September 2008 – Present Faculty Mentor Pew Society
September 2008 – Present Faculty Advisor Justice League/Hope United for Justice
September 2009 – May 2009 Interim Faculty Advisor Acting on AIDS
September 2007 – May 2010 Faculty Advisor
September 2008 –Present Participant
Model United Nations
Multicultural Affairs Committee
September 2007 – May 2008 Department Faculty Meeting Secretary
September 2007 – May 2008 Participant Committee on Diversity and Inclusive Education
September 2007 – June 2008 Teaching Scholar CrossRoads
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY
October – November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
September 2010
Participant
Volunteer
Volunteer
Guest Speaker
September 2010 – May 2011 Researcher
Holland First
Hope for the Nations
Women’s Service Day
HASP
Holland Rescue Mission
October 2008 – October 2009 Research Consultant Disability Network/Lakeshore
September 2008 – Present Research Consultant Aqua Clara, International