Buffett-EDGS Visiting Scholars Directory

Dr. Sirojuddin Arif

Head of the Master’s Program in Political Science at the Indonesian International Islamic University

Contact: sirojuddin.arif@uiii.ac.id

In residence from August 9 to September 27, 2024, Dr. Sirojuddin Arif is the head of the Master’s Program in Political Science at the Indonesian International Islamic University in Jakarta. His extensive research encompasses education policy, food security, gender equality, and the politics of religion. Hosted by Jeffrey Winters, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Buffett Institute’s Equality Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS) program, Dr. Arif focused on the politics of technology learning and industrial upgrading in late-industrializing countries, with a particular emphasis on Indonesia. ​During his visit, Dr. Arif collaborated with experts across Northwestern’s academic community, particularly around his ongoing project, “Learning, Technology Transfer and Industrial Catch-up in Late Industrializing Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea in Comparative Perspective.” His visit enhanced both his research and the university's academic community. Additionally, Arif's visit aligned with the 2024 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association in Philadelphia, enabling him to present his work and engage with fellow scholars. His visit fostered valuable academic exchanges and strengthened ties between Buffett, EDGS, and the Institutes for Advanced Research (IFAR) Consortium, benefiting both institutions and their scholars.

Dr. Asmin Fransiska

Dean of the Faculty of Law at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia

Contact: asmin.fr@atmajaya.ac.id

Serving as a Visiting Scholar from January 28 to February 28, 2025, Dr. Asmin Fransiska is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia in Jakarta. A renowned expert in human rights law, drug policy reform, and international criminal law, she used her time at Northwestern to explore institutional collaboration between Atma Jaya and the Buffett Institute. Her efforts concentrated on developing a new Master’s Program in Public Policy centered on establishing better policy with empowering good policy makers. Dr. Fransiska also presented research titled "From Cannabis to Methamphetamine: The Drug Landscape in Aceh, Indonesia', aligning closely with IFAR Consortium’s and the Buffett Institute’s mission to address complex global challenges through interdisciplinary research. ​She was hosted by Laura Hein, Director of the Arryman Scholars Program within the Buffett Institute’s Equality Development & Globalization Studies program and Harold H. & Virginia Anderson Professor of History at the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences.

Dr. Sarah Gultom

Assistant Professor of Business Innovation, Monash University, Indonesia

Contact: sarah.gultom@monash.edu

Dr. Sarah Gultom joined the Buffett Institute as a Visiting Scholar from March 1 to May 1, 2025, hosted by EDGS Director and Professor of Political Science, Jeffrey Winters. She is an Assistant Professor of Business Innovation at Monash University in Indonesia and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Monash University. Her research is in development economics, focusing on poverty alleviation, inequality, and social policy in Indonesia. At Northwestern, Dr. Gultom developed the research design of an empirical study on the effects of market information asymmetry and peer networks in the operations of intermediaries in Indonesia’s agricultural sector. Her work seeks to inform policies to reduce the adverse impact of intermediary activities on poverty among smallholder farmers. During her visit, she had the opportunity to discuss, present, and refine her research project with faculty members from various departments, such as the Global Poverty Research Lab and the Department of Economics. She attended the Association for Asian Studies Conference and served as a session chair at the Midwest International Economic Development Conference.