Dr. Paa-Kwesi Heto on the Tobis Fellowship
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/02/23
Dr. Paa-Kwesi Heto is a distinguished political economist and development expert affiliated with the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He serves as a Policy Analyst for the TIME Project at UCI, contributing to research and policy development in education and international relations. Dr. Heto has also been recognized with several awards, including the 2021 Joseph L. White Award and the 2020 Etel Solingen Outstanding Paper in International Relations Award. His scholarly work includes contributions to the book “Geopolitics, Supply Chains, and International Relations in East Asia,” where he authored a chapter on global supply chains and great power competition in Africa.
Heto, interviewed by Scott Douglas Jacobsen, shared his experience with the Tobis Fellowship, which he discovered during his PhD at UCI. He valued its mentorship, focus space, and collaborative environment, which inspired him to join. The fellowship, established by Jerome and Hazel Tobis, integrated ethics with personal growth. Heto admired the ethical framework and Kristen Monroe’s leadership, highlighting her supportive, nonjudgmental approach. The fellowship allowed him to explore research without tenure pressures and revise his work for broader audiences. Heto encouraged others to seek postdoc opportunities, emphasizing curiosity, collaboration, and genuine interest in learning and improvement.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we are here with a fellow alumnus, Dr. Paa-Kwesi Heto. How did you first learn about the Tobis Fellowship? I’ve had a long history with them and gained significant value through mentorship and having a dedicated space to focus. I tend to be all over the place, but this fellowship provided a good corrective for me. It offered a space to center my efforts. How did you discover it, and what did it offer you broadly?
Dr. Paa-Kwesi Heto: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Tobi’s Fellowship and various other topics. I pursued my PhD at UCI, and during my first year, I connected with someone on campus who was remarkable. I wanted to learn from her and understand her work. I recall the Tobis Fellows coming to campus for a retreat during that first year. They had an amazing time, and I thought, “Wow, this is great.”
I loved having a year to work on my project in collaboration with others. The opportunity to collaborate with others and receive feedback inspired me to become part of the Tobis Fellowship.
Jacobsen: A significant aspect of the fellowship, as I understand from what Jerome and Hazel Tobis established, was its aim to create an academic pursuit focused on ethics while integrating it with personal integrity, moral character, and practical application.
What did you admire about the ethical and moral focus and framework during your time there?
Heto: I would approach this from three perspectives: first, what Tobis stood for; second, what Kristen Monroe, the director who helped create this program, represents; and third, the unique space that was unintentionally created.
Regarding what Tobis stood for, I agree with your point about practical action aimed at advancing knowledge in ethics and supporting researchers whose spirit of inquiry led to actionable practices. Considering how this inquiry translated into our way of life and character formation was important. Although my topics were not directly focused on ethics, the fellowship compelled me to reflect on the ethical implications of my work and how I embodied those ethics in my research.
The second dimension pertains to Kristen Monroe herself. Kristen is extraordinary and known for her unwavering drive to create space, mentor others, and offer support. She provided a nonjudgmental space, which was essential for the Tobis Fellowship. Her approach was: “I’m going to create the space for you to do your best work. If you need me, I’ll be there to support you.”
Sometimes, I would approach her to bounce ideas off her and talk. We end up, sometimes, talking about a whole range of issues that she has deep knowledge about, especially in terms of moral courage and all the various life experiences she has documented over the years. That creates a nurturing space, allowing people like me to venture into my work without feeling judged or dreading it.
The last part for me was engaging in topics of interest without worrying about the job market, tenure clock, or the opinion of others.
Jacobsen: You sound like someone who just came out of a doctoral program!
Heto: Yes, right. That’s true. I came out of a doctoral program with all the trauma that goes with that. So, having that freedom to explore and letting your inquiring spirit guide you is liberating. When writing a dissertation, you have to be worried about what your committee wants and what is advantageous for the job market. However, revising that work for a broader audience requires more breathing room. That’s what the Tobis Fellowship provided.
The fellowship provided a financial cushion, allowing me to focus on my work without worrying about finding extra gigs to make ends meet. I could concentrate on perfecting my work how I wanted, different from what my committee expected.
Jacobsen: What message would you give to people interested in opportunities like this—to get involved, reach out, and refine their applications for review?
Heto: This advice extends beyond the Tobis Fellowship to postdoc programs and similar fellowship opportunities. Many of us leave school hoping to land a tenure-track position immediately. If that’s you, great—congratulations! However, it’s also important to take the time to continue working on your research, driven by curiosity and collaboration. If you’re applying to fellowships, approach it with a keen interest in learning, improving, and doing your best work. I appreciate this opportunity.
Jacobsen: You’re welcome.
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