Catherine Boone joined the LSE as Professor of Comparative Politics in 2013. She holds a BA from the University of California, and Ph.D from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Professor Boone is currently serving on the steering committee of the American Political Science Association's Africa Initiative and the Advisory Board of the Social Science Research Council's African Peacebuilding Network, as well as numerous editorial boards and committees. She currently (2014-2016) Chairs the Political Economy Organized Section of the American Political Science Association.