Government Department
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

bdurbin@smith.edu
(510) 205-5404 (mobile)

Research Interests
national security

Brent Durbin is an assistant professor in the Government Department at Smith College. Previously he was a postdoctoral teaching fellow in Stanford's Public Policy Program, and a faculty affiliate at CISAC.

Durbin is currently working on a book manuscript based on his dissertation, which explains the policy processes governing how U.S. intelligence agencies respond to major changes in the international threat environment. More broadly, his research focuses on the micro- and macro-level organizational dynamics of national security bureaucracies. He has previously held research fellowships at CISAC, The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, and the University of Cambridge (U.K.).

In 2008, Durbin earned his PhD in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. He also holds a BA (magna cum laude) in politics and English literature from Oberlin College, and an MPP from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Prior to attending Berkeley, Durbin served as press secretary for U.S. Senator Patty Murray, and worked as an advisor and senior staff member on several campaigns for U.S. Congress.