Grant completed his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of New Mexico with sub-field specializations in Comparative Politics and International Relations. His dissertation analyzed infrastructure investments and sustainable development in Brazil, focusing on the policymaking process in Brazil’s developmental state and the socio-environmental impacts of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon. His principal research interests include political economy, the environment, renewable energy, social welfare, democratic institutions, and populism. Currently, he is working on two manuscripts: a comparative analysis of hydroelectric dam projects among developmental states in the Global South and a generalist introduction to Brazilian history and politics.

A broad Latin American and Caribbean expert with peer-reviewed publications on many countries in the region, Grant is a comparativist at heart and fascinated by the lessons gleaned from comparing nations around the world with an inter-disciplinary lens. He publishes in popular press outlets like The Christian Science Monitor, World Politics Review, the Globe Post, and frequently contributes to Global Americans (see the Muckrack Tab). He recently served as President of the New England Council of Latin American Studies (NECLAS) and remains an Ex-Oficio member of the Executive Committee. He also serves as an official election inspector and translator for the City of Boston.

Research is fun, but his favorite part of teaching is connecting with students, in the classroom and abroad. Grant has a broad teaching portfolio, including Comparative Politics, International Relations, several courses on Latin American Politics & Culture, Environmental Politics, Social Movements, US Politics, Social Science Methods, Migration, Development, Public Policy, and multiple levels of Spanish language courses. Previously, he founded and led study-abroad opportunities in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Argentina. Today, he loves globe-hopping the fascinating array of Project Centers inside WPI’s unparalleled Global School.

As an educator, Grant thinks the most important objectives are promoting better information literacy and democratic citizenship, inspiring greater global awareness and engagement, while encouraging students to adopt a holistic approach to our collective challenges. Solutions require technical specifics, but must include a rigorous social, historical, political, economic, and environmental understanding.