New professor enjoys ULV lifestyle

photo by Jennifer Contreras

Born in Iran, Gitty Amini said that although she has lived most of her life in Southern California, it is hard for her to say she is only from the United States. Amini, who started teaching at ULV this fall as a new assistant professor of political science, is currently teaching International Relations. She earned her doctorate at UCLA, and is serving as the new adviser for the Model United Nations club. She is also expecting a baby this December, and will try to teach a class called War and Peace next year.

by Gloria Diaz
Arts & Entertainment Editor

She has only been at the University of La Verne since September, but she has already noticed the differences in the students and the environment from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Gitty Amini is the newest member of the political science department.

"She is a natural fit for this university," associate professor of political science Richard Gelm said, who added, "she is a pleasant person."

A scholar of International Relations and Politics of Developing Nations, Amini came here after teaching at UCLA for a year. She is also the new advisor for ULV's Model United Nations, which she participated in while in high school.

"She is interested in being more than an advisor, she wants to be an active member," said Jennifer Contreras, MUN co-chairwoman. "We are very happy she is our adviser."

Her classes at UCLA had at least 150 students each, while each class at ULV has only 10 students.

"It's a huge difference. I get to interact with the students on a more personal level," Amini said.

"The atmosphere is more welcoming to let students participate," she said.

Born in Iran, Amini attended private American elementary schools.

Her family left Iran when she was nine years old and moved to London.

While in London, she attended the public British school system, as well as Catholic schools.

She then came to Southern California, where she has been ever since.

Amini arrived in Orange County at age 11, where she attended Mission Viejo High School.

She also attended college at UCLA.

Feeling she was ready for different surroundings in another state, Amini took the plunge and went to Columbia University, where she was looking to get her master's and her doctorate. New York presented her with the challenge of getting used to a new big city.

But one year was enough to let her know that New York was not where she wanted to be.

"It turns out by then I was already a California girl; it was very difficult adjusting there," Amini said.

After getting her master's at Columbia, she returned to UCLA to receive her doctorate.

She wrote her dissertation on "rewards and punishment in international policies: how to get your adversaries to do what you want them to do by a mixture of tactics," Amini said.

In 2001 she parlayed her knowledge of international affairs to write two chapters in a book titled, "The New Great Power Coalition: Toward a World of Concert of Nations."

It focuses on world powers trying to make the world stable by using various organizations to deal with economic issues through the World Trade Organization.

Amini wrote about the nations President George W. Bush has named the "axis of evil" and getting them involved with all these organizations.

As for her transition from UCLA to ULV - from big campus life to a small community - she says it has been rather easy.

"It's smaller, more intimate," she said.

Plans are in the works for Amini to offer a class called War and Peace next year, which she hopes to teach.

Amini is also expecting a baby this December.