When Jeff was in his twenties, he traveled the world as both a student and a journalist. During his travels, Jeff became fascinated by other languages, people, and cultures. These experiences abroad eventually led him to earn a Ph.D. in political science and begin his more than 20‑year career at Alfred University.
Dr. Jeff Sluyter‑Beltrao has been a professor of political science at Alfred University since 2005. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature from the College of William & Mary in Virginia before going on to receive a master’s degree in international relations from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
In his twenties, Jeff originally thought he wanted to be a journalist. He had a strong passion for politics and had always been told he was a good writer. Jeff secured internships at Newsweek and with UPI in Rome. While these experiences fascinated him, it soon became clear that journalism wasn’t the right long‑term fit. The final turning point came when an editor refused to publish one of his stories. After forming connections with people in academia, Jeff decided to continue his education and pursue a Ph.D. in political science.
Travel has always played an important role in Jeff’s life. During his junior year of college, he studied abroad in England, which allowed him to travel throughout much of Western Europe. Through these experiences, Jeff discovered his love for other cultures and languages. Shortly after graduating, he returned to Europe, this time to Germany, where he learned German at the Goethe‑Institut and worked on a farm in Bavaria for ten months.
During another stay in Europe, Jeff befriended several Latin Americans and became fascinated by their culture. Inspired by these connections, he learned Spanish and later worked as an English teacher in Nicaragua. Years later, as a Ph.D. candidate at Berkeley, Jeff wrote his dissertation on Brazil’s labor movement. His professional and personal travels took him to many parts of the world before eventually leading him to settle in the quiet, rural town of Alfred with his family.
