Leda M. Barnett, PhD
Professor of Political Science
Honors Program Director
Main Building, Room 202E
210-528-7189
lmbarnett@ollusa.edu
Areas of Expertise
My thesis research centered on women’s protest movements in Latin America, while my doctoral research focused on international free trade and environmental quality. During my doctoral program, scholarships allowed me to conduct summer research at the environmental law center, the Instituto de Derecho Ambiental y Desarrollo Sustentable in Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala. Current scholarly interests include comparative environmental justice, voting rights, and the scholarship of service-learning. I teach in a wide variety of courses in Political Science, including Environmental Politics and Policy, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Latin American Politics, Global Governance, and U.S. Government and Politics. I am interested in comparative political participation and comparative political institutions, especially in their roles of serving to amplify marginalized voices and uphold environmental justice principles. My current research project explores whether immigrant detention centers are more likely to be placed in areas with a wide array of elevated environmental hazards.
Teaching Philosophy
I try to amplify, because it means that I’m not “gifting” students with something that’s not inherently already there. I’m more their guide. They already have inherent power; my role is to show them the paths to wielding and improving it. When I think of amplify, I think of a bullhorn. I’m motivated to focus on amplifying the voices of those who have not always had the bullhorn. Political scientist Harold Lasswell defined politics as “who gets what, when, and how.” The subdisciplines of political science in various ways study unequal power structures. I seek to teach students such power structures, so that by understanding them, they are not left without that bullhorn. I want my students to have political efficacy – to think their contributions and efforts in the political world and their lives will make an impact, and in turn to know what tools to use to do so.
Outside Interests
I enjoy gardening and growing different types of cacti, succulents, orchids and most plants. My family always has a small garden of vegetables, herbs and flowers. My husband, teenage son, and teenage daughter also enjoy gardening. We like cooking international recipes and trying new flavors and learning about new cooking techniques, cultures, and traditions. On our wish list is to travel anywhere our budget and time allow, but we are also happy just hanging out in our backyard with our dog. I’m an avid reader of domestic and international news. I also like watching Netflix documentaries, movies, and comedies with my family.
Certifications
- The Association of College and University Educators and the American Council on Education Certificate in Effective College Instruction: Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Online Learning Environment, July 2023
- Quality Matters Peer Reviewer Course, for use in the assessment of design of online and hybrid courses, July 2023
- Quality Matters Rubric Update Seventh Edition for use in the design of online and hybrid courses, July 2023
- Safe Zone Training on how to support and advocate for our LGBQTIA+ students, June 2023
- General Education/IDEA Diversity and Inclusion Faculty and Staff Workshop Credley
Badge Certification May 19, 2023
Communicating Through Conflict Management Workshop, Credly Badge Certification, April 2023 - Climate Reality Leadership Corps Global Training and Climate Reality Leader position awarded on July 26, 2020
- The Climate Reality Project and Poor People’s Campaign: The Intersection of the Climate Crisis and Social Justice, Webinar and Training, May 19, 2020
- DREAM Zone training and certification on how to support and advocate for our undocumented
students, March 2019, Our Lady of the Lake University
The Rating System for Teaching Excellence is a faculty evaluation tool focusing on
teaching strengths and a commitment to continuous improvement. It assesses instructors
based on four key criteria, each rated on a scale of 1-5 stars. These criteria include
the clarity of instruction, organization of course material, ability to engage students,
and availability and helpfulness outside of class. Instructors are evaluated on their
clarity in explaining concepts, the organization of course materials, their ability
to engage and involve students, and their accessibility and responsiveness outside
of class. This system helps showcase and recognize exceptional teaching while promoting
ongoing enhancement of teaching skills.
Professional Memberships
- Service as a Bexar County Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar 2008 – present
- American Political Science Association
- National Collegiate Honors Council
- Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society
- Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society
- Pi Gamma Mu National Honor Society
- Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society
Awards
- Recipient of the Excellence in Service-Learning Faculty Award May 2019
- Recipient of The Francine Fleming Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence, May 2017
- Recipient of the Excellence in Service-Learning Faculty Award May 2015
Education
- PhD - Political Science - University of Alabama
- Master of Arts - Political Science, Mississippi State University
- Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Minor in Foreign Langauages (Spanish and Russian), Mississippi State University