Joining Whitworth University this fall from the University of Georgia is Dr. Matthew Rains, a professor of philosophy in political science and international affairs. Rains’ areas of study lie in international relations and comparative politics, with a focus on political violence and human rights.
“Whitworth’s mission and students are ultimately what drove me to the university. As a human rights scholar and advocate, serving humanity in all facets of my job is central. Whitworth’s explicit drive towards this goal spoke to me in a way that other institutions did not,” said Rains.
“I see mentorship as the most important part of my job, and Whitworth’s liberal arts model allows for that type of mutual learning, which I’m very excited about,” said Rains. This excitement also extended toward lending interesting new courses, unique experiences for students, and broader human rights connections at Whitworth.
This aim actualizes itself in two ways for Rains.
“I hope to [train] the next generation of leaders from Whitworth with applied skills to use in their lives and empathy to engage the world with compassion and care,” said Rains. “I’d like to look back and be proud of the actualized improvements we create.”
“I’ve got plenty of projects involving human rights and international relations that I can’t wait to get students involved with, particularly the Human Rights Measurement Initiative,” said Rains. Rains works for this initiative as the civil and political rights lead.
“International affairs, and more specifically, international relations, are truly representative of the way our world works. Through continued connection and globalization, there is no avoiding the international system, and now more than ever it’s necessary to think critically about the way our world works and the systems that define it,” said Rains.
Rains noted international relations as “special” because of its ability to intersect the applied dimensions of many other areas of study, such as economics, environmental science and political science. International relations prompts students to understand not only these underlying areas, but also different perceptions of and advocations for them globally.
Exposure to these areas of study widened Rains’ perspective and made him a “more critical thinker.” It was the catalyst for both his research focus on human rights as well as his passion toward “changing lives for the better.”
“I think students can expect a few specific things from me. First, this focus on broad perspectives necessitates the prioritization of voices that are different from those we typically hear. Students can expect both a wide focus on the work of underrepresented scholars, as well as classes that think critically about the systems we live within,” said Rains.
“Fusion of non-governmental organization engagement and teaching means that students should expect direct opportunities to get involved, both at the local Spokane level and in the broader [non-governmental organization] community. […] Learning through experience is my primary goal for students,” said Rains.
Rains encourages students to stop by his office this coming fall, and said he is always happy to have conversations about service work, human rights or anything else political science, as well as hoping to start a formal Model United Nations team at Whitworth.
