A little about me
I’m Cassandra Grafström, a PhD candidate of Political Science at the University of Michigan. I recently completed a pre-doctoral fellow in Political Economy at The Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Germany. My dissertation chairs are Bill Clark at Texas A&M and Rob Franzese at Michigan, with Arthur Lupia and Jenna Bednar serving as as committee members. Originally from Riverside, California, my research focuses on Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Economics generally, with a particular passion for understanding sources of democratic accountability and how institutions can help politicians break those chains that bind them to voters. I was an undergraduate at the University of California, San Diego and often miss the opportunity to surf before heading to school (not that I did that often enough).
In my free time (ha!) I enjoy anusura yoga, running, lifting weights, swimming, traveling anywhere and everywhere, playing more beach volleyball than is good for me, karaoke, live music, baking, handstands, cooking, any type of athletic race I can find, spending time with my wonderful friends, contemplating the thought processes of my cat Snickers, and reading theology. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to make two countries into second homes as a study abroad student for a year in Lund, Sweden during undergrad, and Berlin, Germany for two years as a graduate student. Tack så mycket för besöket!
