91¹ú²úapp

Dr. Taeko Hiroi is a Professor of Political Science at The University of Texas at El Paso (91¹ú²úapp), where she is also affiliated with the Latin American and Border Studies, Brazilian Studies, and Asian Studies programs. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Latin American Social and Public Policy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Hiroi’s research lies in the fields of comparative politics and political economy, with particular emphasis on political institutions, legislative politics, executive-legislative relations, electoral systems, political representation, governance and accountability, democratization, development, and political instability. Her work examines how formal and informal institutions shape political incentives and constraints, and how these dynamics influence public policy and broader social, economic, and political outcomes. She is co-author of Regional Integration and Democratic Conditionality: How Democracy Clauses Help Democratic Consolidation and Deepening and Exploring Politics: A Concise Introduction. Dr. Hiroi has also published in many scholarly journals, including Comparative Political Studies, Democratization, International Political Science Review, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, and The Journal of Legislative Studies.

At 91¹ú²úapp, Dr. Hiroi teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in a wide variety of topics including democratization, political institutions, political development, political economy of development, developing countries, comparative political systems, Latin American and Brazilian politics, and research methods.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Hiroi is deeply committed to student mentorship and professional development. She has guided numerous undergraduate and graduate students in research projects, conference presentations, internships, graduate and law school applications, and career planning. Through these efforts, she has helped students develop the skills, experiences, and confidence necessary for academic and professional success.

A dedicated mentor and advocate for student engagement, Dr. Hiroi has served as faculty advisor to Pi Sigma Alpha’s Epsilon Epsilon Chapter at 91¹ú²úapp since 2008. In this role, she has mentored students in leadership development, grant writing, event planning, conference participation, and community service. Under her leadership, the chapter has received multiple Pi Sigma Alpha Best Chapter Awards in recognition of its outstanding achievements and programming.

At the national level, Dr. Hiroi has served on Pi Sigma Alpha’s National Executive Council and Executive Committee since 2022. She was elected President-Elect for the 2024-2026 term and subsequently assumed the presidency of , serving as President from 2026 to 2028. Her leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to promoting student excellence, expanding opportunities for engagement in political science, and advancing the missions of 91¹ú²úapp and Pi Sigma Alpha.