Curriculum Vitae

Thomas Rhoden – Ph.D. Candidate

(updated 2 March 2012) 

Education

2015 (expected)           Ph.D., Political Science.                      Northern Illinois University                            s                                   Dissertation Title: (purposed)          “Asylum Outcome in Thailand”

 Major Field:                                       Comparative Politics

 Minor Field:                                       Political Theory

 Certificate:                                         Southeast Asian Studies

2009                            M.B.A., Global Management             Thunderbird School of Global Management                                                       Thesis Title:                “Social Entrepreneurship in Refugee Camps”

2003                            B.A., Management                             Webster University Thailand

Student Scholarships, Honors, and Study Abroad:

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. Fall 2012 – Spring 2013. Successful nomination by Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University.  (Burmese language).

FLAS Fellowship. Summer 2012. Successful nomination by Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University. (Burmese language).

Graduate School Tuition-Wavier Scholarship. Fall 2011 – Spring 2012. Successful nomination by Department of Political Science. Northern Illinois University.

Exchange Semester with CMC Graduate School of Business, Čelákovice, Czech Republic. Spring 2008.  Successful nomination by Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Exchange Semester with Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderăbăd, India. Fall 2008. Successful nomination by Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Departmental Honors. Fall 2003. Successful nomination by Department of Management. Webster University Thailand.

Exchange Semester with University of Maryland University College (UMUC), Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. Fall 2001 – Spring 2002.  Successful nomination by UMUC.

Languages: English (native); Thai (fluent); Lao (fluent); Burmese (intermediate). 

Publications

Books:

Rhoden, Thomas, ed. 2011. Burmese Refugees: Letters from the Thai-Burma Border. Chicago, Illinois: Digital Lycanthrope Press.

Rhoden, Thomas. 2006. Community Enterprise Committee: Thai-English, English-Thai Dictionary. Bangkok, Thailand: Peace Corps Thailand.

Professional Experience

Organizations:

2009 – 2010                Burma Volunteer Program. Refugee Camp Volunteer. Nupo, Thailand.

Developed and Implemented professional development classes within Nupo Refugee Camp primarily for the soon-to-be-resettled Burmese and Karen populations, focusing on cultural adjustment issues, resume and interview workshops, college preparatory education, and English enhancement training for duration of one year commitment.

2008                DHL In-House Consulting. Associate Consultant. Bonn, Germany.

Authored whitepaper on international trade implications of Oceanfreight and Airfreight between Europe and China as part of Summer Associate requirement for master’s degree.

2005 – 2007                Peace Corps Thailand. Development Volunteer. Sakon Nahhon, Thailand

Oversaw project development, management and implementation of capacity building for my community under the Community Based Organizational Development program.  Co-founded the Community Enterprise Committee (CEC) of Peace Corps Thailand as resource for both development consultants and local Thai counterparts interested in income generation projects.  Utilized the CEC platform and US government funding in the form of US Special Project Assistance to design and implement first-ever small business skills training in Peace Corps Thailand’s 50 year history.  Two other projects were awarded US grant money via Tsunami Special Project Assistance, and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).