Drop-in hours

• Monday, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

I am currently a PhD candidate in political science studying international relations and comparative politics. My research seeks to further explore the effect that natural resources have on international conflict and cooperation, especially in the maritime context, and how natural resources influence regime behavior and social mobilization at all levels of analysis. I graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2020 with a BA in Political Science, as well as minors in Economics and Russian Language.

My dissertation examines when, where, and why offshore oil and natural gas cause states to engage in conflictual behavior versus cooperative behavior. I develop and test mechanisms for how specific conditions under which offshore oil and natural gas are exploited, managed, and traded influence maritime conflict dynamics. I also treat offshore oil and offshore natural gas as separate resources that have different effects on international relations. 

Research interests

• International Relations, Interstate Conflict, Civil Conflict, Foreign Policy, Conflict Management, Maritime International Relations, Social Mobilization, Natural Resource Politics, Research Design

Peer-reviewed publications

• LaSpisa, Chase. 2025. “Dangerous Development: The Effect of Offshore Fossil-Fuel Discovery and Production on Maritime Diplomatic Conflict”. International Interactions 25 (1): 29-57. [Link]
• LaSpisa, Chase and Sara McLaughlin Mitchell. 2025. “Testing the Waters: Exploring Why Democracies Have More Maritime Conflict”. Foreign Policy Analysis 21 (2): 1-15. [Link]

Honors, awards, & fellowships

• Fulbright Study/Research Grant to Norway 2024-2025
• University of Iowa Post-Comprehensive Fellowship, Declined, Spring 2024
• Lynne Rienner Award for Best Paper Presented by a Graduate Student, International Studies Association,  Fall 2023
• Best Seminar Paper, Departmental Award, University of Iowa, Fall 2022
• University of Iowa Graduate College Recruitment Fellowship, 2020-present
• NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, University of North Texas, Summer 2019

Teaching interests

• International Relations, Interstate Conflict, Civil Conflict, Foreign Policy, Conflict Management, Maritime International Relations, Social Mobilization, Natural Resource Politics, Research Design

Teaching and mentoring experience

• Primary Instructor, International Conflict, Fall 2025
• Workshop Instructor, Iowa Social Science Research Center
  • Introduction to Stata. Fall 2023-Spring 2024; Fall 2025-Spring 2026
  • Introduction to Data Visualization using Stata, Fall 2023 – Spring 2024
• Graduate Teaching Assistant
  • Introduction to American Foreign Policy (online), Fall 2021-Fall 2022
  • Introduction to International Relations, Spring 2021
  • Introduction to American Foreign Policy, Fall 2020
• Guest Lecturer
  • International Conflict, Fall 2022
• Mentorship, Department of Political Science
  • Peer Mentor for Incoming Graduate Students, 2021- Present
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant Mentor, Spring-Fall 2023