Our department remembers Dr. Jean-Bertrand Ribat (Ph.D. Indiana University, 2014) who passed away on July 11 in Toulouse (France). JB (as he was known) came to study political science in the US in his early 40s after a successful career in business in his native France. He first went to NYC and then attended the University of Montana, Missoula before joining us in Bloomington. He became a legendary figure among our graduate students who benefitted on numerous occasions from his unique generosity.

JB was interested in international relations and studied under the supervision of two leading scholars, Bill Thompson and Karen Rasler. His dissertation, “Defeating systemic challengers: Coordination and the balance of power theory” was an extensive foray into the history of international relations with a view to current events. After a short teaching stint at the University of Antalya in Turkey, JB returned to France to be with his family. He has kept in touch with many of our graduate students over the years and last visited Bloomington in the Fall of 2018 when he joined us on one of our famous Story Inn hikes (JB is the one sitting on the bench). He was as French as one can be, but he also loved America, with all its contradictions and surprises. We will greatly miss him!