Dr. Holley Hansen is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science. Her research focuses on communal conflict, political violence, and conflict management. Her recent work examines right-wing terrorism in the United States, United Nations peacekeeping and terrorism, and the role of women in post-conflict transitions. Her research has been published in Conflict Management and Peace Science, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, and International Interactions. 

She is also highly engaged in service to the department, university, and her broader scholarly community. She served as President of the International Studies Association Midwest Region (2025), a former Chair of the APSA Committee on the Status of First Generation Scholars in the Profession (2023-2024), and was elected as a Member-at-Large to the ISA Governing Council (2025-27) and Executive Committee (2025-26). 

Research Interests:

Conflict, Conflict Mediation, Ethnic & Communal Politics, Comparative Democracy, Technology & Teaching