Meet Kosta Kambouris, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science who recently stopped by the Graduate Writing Hours in the Hoopes Room on level 2. Kosta has a BIS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Weber State University, which included studies in political science, geography and international studies. Kosta’s doctoral work is in international relations and comparative politics, with research interests involving migration, diaspora and (trans)nationalism. 

“I’m really interested in looking at how politics and place intersect,” explains Kosta. “I want to explore and learn about the way that people identify and form their political consciousness with associations to place. Especially focusing on migrant and diaspora communities.” 

Before he applied to the Ph.D. program, Kosta did work at the International Rescue Committee in the employment, immigration and education departments working with refugee communities. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora. This involves programming for the global fellowship program and preparing for the upcoming fall conference.  

Kosta stopped by the library’s Hoopes Room to gather with peers and work on his writing. Librarians Annika Deutsch and Jasmine Kirby host the writing hours twice a month, offering tips and resources for students working on their theses and dissertations.  

These writing hours came out of student feedback from the popular Graduate Student Dissertation & Thesis Writing Camps hosted by the library and the Graduate School. “Grad students wanted more dedicated writing time, and we love the opportunity to help them throughout the semester,” Annika noted. Learn more about Graduate Student resources offered by the library, and register for a writing session or the upcoming Writing Camp (March 4 to 6).