Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦
@lauradean.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin University (she/her) 🇱🇻🇺🇦
Pinned
Laura Dean 🇱🇻🇺🇦
@lauradean.bsky.social
· Nov 18
How effective are policy approaches in combatting human trafficking? - Transforming Society
Laura Dean, author of 'Diffusing Human Trafficking Policy in Eurasia', discusses whether current human trafficking policies are effective, and how they might be improved. There is an accompanying poli...
www.transformingsociety.co.uk
My book Diffusing Human Trafficking Policy in Eurasia was published by Policy Press in 2020! Here is a blog post based on the book discussing the effectiveness #HumanTrafficking policy & the limits of policy solutions for wicked problems. www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/05/13/h...
Such exciting news! If you attended our Global Slavery Summit back in November you likely signed a postcard to Representatives Mary Miller & Nikki Budzinski at our advocacy table. Thankful to everyone for their advocacy efforts in making this bill a law! dallasexpress.com/national/tru...
Trump Signs Law Giving Human Trafficking Survivors A Path To Clear Records
President Donald Trump signed legislation allowing human trafficking survivors to seek vacated convictions and expunged arrest records tied to their exploitation.
dallasexpress.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Such exciting news! If you attended our Global Slavery Summit back in November you likely signed a postcard to Representatives Mary Miller & Nikki Budzinski at our advocacy table. Thankful to everyone for their advocacy efforts in making this bill a law! dallasexpress.com/national/tru...
My book Diffusing Human Trafficking Policy in Eurasia is part of this sale.....if you have been waiting to buy it for six years hoping it would get cheaper now is the time!
❄️January Sale!❄️
For a limited time only, enjoy 50% OFF all our books. Simply use code BUP01 at checkout to unlock your discount 💫
#JanuarySale #BookSale #HalfPriceBooks
https://ow.ly/ZRJs50XZC76
For a limited time only, enjoy 50% OFF all our books. Simply use code BUP01 at checkout to unlock your discount 💫
#JanuarySale #BookSale #HalfPriceBooks
https://ow.ly/ZRJs50XZC76
January 22, 2026 at 1:39 PM
My book Diffusing Human Trafficking Policy in Eurasia is part of this sale.....if you have been waiting to buy it for six years hoping it would get cheaper now is the time!
On Tuesday my student research assistant read the #HumanTrafficking Prevention Month Proclamation to the Decatur City Council. She got to shake hands with the mayor and get her signature. It was pretty easy to set up and I can send you my model proclamation if you would like to do this in your city!
January 22, 2026 at 1:34 PM
On Tuesday my student research assistant read the #HumanTrafficking Prevention Month Proclamation to the Decatur City Council. She got to shake hands with the mayor and get her signature. It was pretty easy to set up and I can send you my model proclamation if you would like to do this in your city!
Looking forward to our Ninth Annual Panel Discussion on Labor Trafficking for Human Trafficking Prevention Month next week at Millikin University! We have a pretty great group of panelists who will speak on an important and understudied aspect of #HumanTrafficking.
January 21, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Looking forward to our Ninth Annual Panel Discussion on Labor Trafficking for Human Trafficking Prevention Month next week at Millikin University! We have a pretty great group of panelists who will speak on an important and understudied aspect of #HumanTrafficking.
Happy first day of classes spring semester 2026! Does not feel like spring at all but most of my students said the one thing that they were looking forward to this semester was warmer weather so I am pretty sure their wish will come true!
January 21, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Happy first day of classes spring semester 2026! Does not feel like spring at all but most of my students said the one thing that they were looking forward to this semester was warmer weather so I am pretty sure their wish will come true!
It was a snowy last #WinterBreak #AcWri at my local coffee shop today! Still working on revisions to chapter six on women's policy agendas in Latvia but hoping to finish it by the time classes start on Tuesday. Sad to be done with break but ready for warmer temps! ☕✍️🇱🇻❄️
January 17, 2026 at 8:03 PM
It was a snowy last #WinterBreak #AcWri at my local coffee shop today! Still working on revisions to chapter six on women's policy agendas in Latvia but hoping to finish it by the time classes start on Tuesday. Sad to be done with break but ready for warmer temps! ☕✍️🇱🇻❄️
#AcWri working on edits to Chapter 6 on women's policy agendas in the Saeima in a fancy coffee shop near the University of Illinois today. Met a friend for lunch and writing. The coffee was great and the big campus coffee shop writing vibe was so much fun! ☕✍️🇱🇻
January 12, 2026 at 11:01 PM
#AcWri working on edits to Chapter 6 on women's policy agendas in the Saeima in a fancy coffee shop near the University of Illinois today. Met a friend for lunch and writing. The coffee was great and the big campus coffee shop writing vibe was so much fun! ☕✍️🇱🇻
Had to do my Saturday #WinterBreak #AcWri at home today because my poor dog took a tumble down the stairs and I wanted to keep an eye on her. Ran out quickly to get coffee and one of my students was working so she made Scarlett a pup cup. Definitely brightened her day!
January 11, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Had to do my Saturday #WinterBreak #AcWri at home today because my poor dog took a tumble down the stairs and I wanted to keep an eye on her. Ran out quickly to get coffee and one of my students was working so she made Scarlett a pup cup. Definitely brightened her day!
Totally agree with this article, it is time for a woman to lead the UN! A woman from Eastern Europe with unique knowledge of colonialism, regime change, and democracy building and backsliding is definitely an excellent choice! passblue.com/2025/12/09/a...
An Eastern European Woman Should Lead the UN - PassBlue
An Eastern European Woman Should Lead the UN - PassBlue
passblue.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Totally agree with this article, it is time for a woman to lead the UN! A woman from Eastern Europe with unique knowledge of colonialism, regime change, and democracy building and backsliding is definitely an excellent choice! passblue.com/2025/12/09/a...
#AcWri winter break edition! Starting edits and revisions to Chapter 5 on violence against women in politics of my book Gendering the Saeima: the Politics of Women's Representation in Latvia. I read and edit on paper before working on reviewer comments and double checking my translations/sources.
January 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
#AcWri winter break edition! Starting edits and revisions to Chapter 5 on violence against women in politics of my book Gendering the Saeima: the Politics of Women's Representation in Latvia. I read and edit on paper before working on reviewer comments and double checking my translations/sources.
Read about this in my WomenLead substack and it's so interesting to see such a blatant example of how parliamentary spaces were not designed for women.....I analyze women's work in a gender insensitive parliament in my book Gendering the Saeima too! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Japan PM joins fight for more female toilets in parliament
Japan's parliament building was built in 1936, a decade before women were given the right to vote.
www.bbc.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Read about this in my WomenLead substack and it's so interesting to see such a blatant example of how parliamentary spaces were not designed for women.....I analyze women's work in a gender insensitive parliament in my book Gendering the Saeima too! www.bbc.com/news/article...
One of my favorite Latvian authors Nora Ikstena passed away today. I have been fortunate read her work in English and Latvian. I also took my students to see Soviet Milk (Mātes piens) in the theaters during my last Baltic Immersion class. Ļoti skumjas ziņas...Izsaku līdzjūtību. 🇱🇻
🕯️ Pāragri pēc smagas slimības mūžībā aizsaukta latviešu rakstniece Nora Ikstena, LTV apstiprina tuvinieki.
Ikstenas zināmākais literārais darbs ir romāns "Mātes piens". Viņa sarakstījusi septiņus romānus, ir vairāku stāstu krājumu, biogrāfiju un eseju autore.
www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultu...
Ikstenas zināmākais literārais darbs ir romāns "Mātes piens". Viņa sarakstījusi septiņus romānus, ir vairāku stāstu krājumu, biogrāfiju un eseju autore.
www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultu...
January 4, 2026 at 6:12 PM
One of my favorite Latvian authors Nora Ikstena passed away today. I have been fortunate read her work in English and Latvian. I also took my students to see Soviet Milk (Mātes piens) in the theaters during my last Baltic Immersion class. Ļoti skumjas ziņas...Izsaku līdzjūtību. 🇱🇻
Ukrainian police busted a #HumanTrafficking ring that recruited 🇺🇦 women from the front lines in Donetsk oblast for sexual exploitation in Europe. Two women recruiters were arrested in 🇺🇦 and police are formalizing the process for the third suspect in Poland. www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-regio...
На Донеччині судитимуть організаторку вербування жінок для сексуальної експлуатації в ЄС
Правоохоронці затримали злочинницю - мешканку Кам’янського, яка вербувала жінок для сексуальної експлуатації в країнах Євросоюзу. — Укрінформ.
www.ukrinform.ua
January 3, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Ukrainian police busted a #HumanTrafficking ring that recruited 🇺🇦 women from the front lines in Donetsk oblast for sexual exploitation in Europe. Two women recruiters were arrested in 🇺🇦 and police are formalizing the process for the third suspect in Poland. www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-regio...
Back in Decatur for my #AcWri Saturday working on revisions to Chapter 4 of my book Gendering the Saeima on interruptions in parliamentary debates. With only two weeks left of #WinterBreak I am almost halfway done with these book revisions.....hoping to finish by February!🤞🇱🇻✍️
January 3, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Back in Decatur for my #AcWri Saturday working on revisions to Chapter 4 of my book Gendering the Saeima on interruptions in parliamentary debates. With only two weeks left of #WinterBreak I am almost halfway done with these book revisions.....hoping to finish by February!🤞🇱🇻✍️
A few last snowy walks on the lake and in the woods during #WinterBreak before heading home to Illinois. My parents still have their Ukrainian flag out on the lake in Minnesota to show our support! 🇺🇦
January 2, 2026 at 2:49 PM
A few last snowy walks on the lake and in the woods during #WinterBreak before heading home to Illinois. My parents still have their Ukrainian flag out on the lake in Minnesota to show our support! 🇺🇦
January is #HumanTrafficking Prevention Month in the United States. Here are a variety of awareness signs with different messages and hotlines that I found in toilets and rest areas during my #WinterBreak Travels!
January 1, 2026 at 3:50 PM
January is #HumanTrafficking Prevention Month in the United States. Here are a variety of awareness signs with different messages and hotlines that I found in toilets and rest areas during my #WinterBreak Travels!
Walking with my favs in snowy Northern Wisconsin! Happy holidays, Priecīgus ziemassvētkus, і з Різдвом Христовим усіх! 🎄 ❄️
December 24, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Walking with my favs in snowy Northern Wisconsin! Happy holidays, Priecīgus ziemassvētkus, і з Різдвом Христовим усіх! 🎄 ❄️
We just received a revise and resubmit decision on our Adjudication of #HumanTrafficking cases in Central Illinois article! This is the fourth article from Human Trafficking Research Lab published with students and I told them we have to celebrate academic wins like this when they come along! #AcWri
a woman in an orange fur coat is standing next to another woman in a red coat .
ALT: a woman in an orange fur coat is standing next to another woman in a red coat .
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
We just received a revise and resubmit decision on our Adjudication of #HumanTrafficking cases in Central Illinois article! This is the fourth article from Human Trafficking Research Lab published with students and I told them we have to celebrate academic wins like this when they come along! #AcWri
Final grades are submitted and I am officially starting #WinterBreak! Looking forward to ice skating and walking on the lake in Minnesota and seeing the family and friends from college in Wisconsin!
a group of people are dancing in the snow in front of a sign that says snow party
ALT: a group of people are dancing in the snow in front of a sign that says snow party
media.tenor.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Final grades are submitted and I am officially starting #WinterBreak! Looking forward to ice skating and walking on the lake in Minnesota and seeing the family and friends from college in Wisconsin!
Our panel "Women’s Leadership, Protest, and Representation in Central and Eastern Europe" was accepted to the 2026 European Conference on Politics and Gender! Looking forward to visiting Newcastle this summer to present my chapter on Women’s Work and Parliamentary Effectiveness in the Saeima! 🇱🇻
a woman sitting on a couch with the words i hope you like feminist rants above her
ALT: a woman sitting on a couch with the words i hope you like feminist rants above her
media.tenor.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Our panel "Women’s Leadership, Protest, and Representation in Central and Eastern Europe" was accepted to the 2026 European Conference on Politics and Gender! Looking forward to visiting Newcastle this summer to present my chapter on Women’s Work and Parliamentary Effectiveness in the Saeima! 🇱🇻
End of semester updates from the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin with information on our upcoming 9th Annual Panel Discussion for #HumanTrafficking Prevention Month on "Labor Trafficking" in January. Looking forward to another year of research in the lab! humantraffickingresearchlab.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
End of semester updates from the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin with information on our upcoming 9th Annual Panel Discussion for #HumanTrafficking Prevention Month on "Labor Trafficking" in January. Looking forward to another year of research in the lab! humantraffickingresearchlab.org
Doing a little #AcWri in my local coffee shop on a very chilly morning in Central Illinois before all of my final papers come in tomorrow. Working on revisions to Chapter Three of my book on women's work today and hoping to finish them this week before my winter break begins!
December 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Doing a little #AcWri in my local coffee shop on a very chilly morning in Central Illinois before all of my final papers come in tomorrow. Working on revisions to Chapter Three of my book on women's work today and hoping to finish them this week before my winter break begins!
It was a very cold 2025 Winter Commencement at Millikin University today! Enjoyed the thoughtful and reflective keynote speech from Angel Lawrence, Executive Director of the Northeast Community Fund. She was an undergraduate political science major and then received her MSW. Congrats graduates! 🎓
December 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
It was a very cold 2025 Winter Commencement at Millikin University today! Enjoyed the thoughtful and reflective keynote speech from Angel Lawrence, Executive Director of the Northeast Community Fund. She was an undergraduate political science major and then received her MSW. Congrats graduates! 🎓
Happy Cookie Party Day to all who celebrate.....this is my favorite day of the year at Millikin!
December 10, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Happy Cookie Party Day to all who celebrate.....this is my favorite day of the year at Millikin!
It's pretty cool that my Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin will be featured on a professional development panel "Academic Entrepreneurship: Launching and Leading Centers, Labs, and Institutes" for Women in Legislative Studies @winls.bsky.social with others from Dartmouth and Arizona State!
December 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
It's pretty cool that my Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin will be featured on a professional development panel "Academic Entrepreneurship: Launching and Leading Centers, Labs, and Institutes" for Women in Legislative Studies @winls.bsky.social with others from Dartmouth and Arizona State!