Stetson professor of political science and Russian studies Eugene Huskey has been named a U.S. Embassy Policy Specialist by IREX. IREX is an international nonprofit organization, providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive, lasting change globally. Huskey is one of 16 recipients worldwide to receive this honor. The scholars and professionals will serve as policy specialists at U.S. Embassies and U.S.AID Missions throughout Eurasia. After they complete their fellowships, their research findings will be posted on the IREX online resource library.

This competition awards grants to American scholars to assist U.S. embassies with governance and public policy projects overseas. IREX enables local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: quality education, independent media and strong communities by focusing on conflict resolution, technology for development, gender and youth.

Huskey will be working on a governance project in the Kyrgyz Republic from May through July 2013. In his abstract, which is summarized online, Huskey will examine the development of the recently established public monitoring councils attached to Kyrgyzstan’s ministries and local governments. Operating at the intersection between the state and civil society, these councils offer an opportunity to explore an experiment designed to enhance transparency and accountability in post-communist governance.

Although this is the first time Huskey has received the U.S. Embassy Policy Specialist distinction from IREX, this is one of multiple IREX awards that Huskey has received since 1979. He was awarded the IREX scholar distinction for the first time in 1979-80, and he conducted his doctoral research at Moscow State University at that time. Since that time, he has become an expert on Kyrgyzstan, and has traveled to the region more than 20 times.

Huskey has previously specialized in politics and legal affairs of the USSR and its modern successors. Huskey has contributed to more than 50 academic articles concerning Soviet and post-Communist affairs in publications including the Christian Science Monitor, the Wall Street Journal, Salon.com and others, and was the author or editor of four published books on the topic. In addition, he has given presentations to the U.S. State Department and other American government agencies, as well as to the OECD, and has been invited to give lectures at 24 universities in the United States and abroad.

At Stetson University, Huskey was awarded the William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007, the John Hague Award for Outstanding Teaching in the liberal arts and sciences in 2012 and he has also won Stetson’s Hand Prize for Faculty Research on two occasions. Since 1999, he has held the William R. Kenan, Jr. Chair in Political Science and Russian Studies at Stetson University.