Scott Straus is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies. Scott's principal interest in human rights comes from his work on genocide, in particular his research on Rwanda. At UW-Madison, Scott teaches courses on the politics of human rights, the comparative study of genocide, and empirical studies of civil war and violence. For more information about his research and teaching interests, please visit his website. Email: sstraus@wisc.edu

(On Leave)

Florence Chenoweth was recently appointed as the Minister of Agriculture in Liberia. This represents Chenoweth's second term as Minister of Agriculture after she became Liberia's (and Africa's) first female Minister of Agriculture at the age of 32, serving from 1977 to 1979. Chenoweth and her family narrowly escaped Liberia after a violent coup, walking across the country to safety in Sierra Leone. Having earned her Master's degree in agricultural economics (1970) she returned to UW-Madison to complete her doctorate while Liberia spiraled into civil war.

From 1983 to 1986, Chenoweth served as technical adviser to the World Bank in Lusaka, Zambia and as a consultant to the Bank in Washington, DC. From 1987 to 1993, she was Chief of Party for a UW-Madison project in Zambia that helped improve agricultural policy formation and management. She joined the FAO in 1995 as its representative in Pretoria, South Africa, following the end of apartheid. In June 2001, she was named FAO liaison with the UN in New York, serving as the main link between the FAO and the UN's General Assembly and community. Her recent post at the UN expired in April 2007. Email: chenoweth@bascom.wisc.edu