About

Kathy L. Powers is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Mexico, where she also holds appointments in the UNM Program of Africana Studies, the School of Law, and the Center for Social Policy. She recently was named named an external faculty member at the Santa Fe Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as a a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, DC. 

Powers is interested in the role of institutions and law in international politics specifically in human rights, trade, and conflict. Her research focuses on the role of reparations in the aftermath of mass atrocities globally, the design and authority of international organizations, and the security implications of regional economic institutions. Her recent research specifically focuses on the role of politics and law in reparations efforts for mass atrocities globally and in the US.

Powers has published her research in diverse venues such as the Journal of Conflict Resolution, the Journal of Peace Research, International Interactions, Foreign Policy Analysis, the Review of International Studies, and the NAACP Special Edition. She holds a PhD in political science from The Ohio State University.