Program Administration

Kathryn Stoner

Director
Kathryn Stoner

Kathryn Stoner is Director of IPS, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Deputy Director at the Center for Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law.

Prior to coming to Stanford in 2004, Dr. Stoner was on the faculty at Princeton University for nine years, jointly appointed to the Department of Politics and the Woodrow Wilson School for International and Public Affairs. At Princeton she received the Ralph O. Glendinning Preceptorship awarded to outstanding junior faculty. She also served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at McGill University. She has held fellowships at Harvard University as well as the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC.

In addition to many articles and book chapters on contemporary Russia, she is the author of two single authored books: Resisting the State: Reform and Retrenchment in Post-Soviet Russia (Cambridge, 2006), and Local Heroes: The Political Economy of Russian Regional Governance (Princeton, 1997). She is also co-editor (along with Michael McFaul) of After the Collapse of Communism: Comparative Lessons of Transitions (Cambridge, 2004).

Dr. Stoner received a BA and MA in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Government from Harvard University.

Associate Director

Sara Tung

saratung@stanford.edu

P: 650-721-3955


Sara Tung

Prior to joining IPS in October 2009, Sara spent six years with the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) Global Management and Public Management Programs.  As director of the GSB's Global Management Program, she supported MBA students concentrating in international business and management as well as international development. Sara spent nine years in China and Southeast Asia, primarily with corporations such as IBM, Booz Allen & Hamilton, and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.  She also consulted to NGOs focused on the environment, refugee resettlement, and efforts to end mass atrocities and human trafficking, both in Asia and the Bay Area. Sara began her professional life as a teacher in the Foreign Trade Department of Shanghai Jiaotong University's School of Management.  She is an alumna of Stanford University, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and an MBA.   

Academic and Student Services Officer

Jonathan Achter

jjachter@stanford.edu

P: 650-725-9155


Jonathan has been with the Ford Dorsey Program in International Policy Studies since November 2005. Previously he worked in international education and study abroad at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Iowa State University.  His international study, work, and program leadership destinations include Australia, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. He holds a master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies, specializing in student development, from Iowa State University. He is concurrently working on a doctorate in higher education leadership, policy, and development for international educators.  He enjoys music, hiking, camping, soccer, tennis, wine tasting, and traveling.

Acting Program Coordinator 

Castaña Aguirre

caguirre@stanford.edu
P: 650-725-9075

Originally from Chile, Castaña has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2008. Previously Castana was a program assistant at Stanford's Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE), supporting the Associate Director of Programs and Finance and Director of Educational Programs. In Chile she worked for a university study abroad program and conducted research in the private sector. Castana studied Political Science at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, with International Relations being her main area of interest. She loves swimming, reading, traveling, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Program Coordinator 

Michelle Laker (on leave)

Michelle joined IPS in February 2012, and comes to Stanford after 10 years in the UK. Most recently Michelle worked at the University of Exeter where she was responsible for overseeing the recruitment and support of international students during their transitioned from academic preparatory and English language courses to university degree programs.  Michelle has a master's degree in international relations from the University of Wales, Swansea, where she wrote her thesis on the effect of study abroad programs on participants' political opinions. Michelle enjoys working with students from across the globe and is passionate about providing an exceptional student experience.  She also enjoys traveling, camping, sewing, baking and Salsa dancing.