Recent Texas Philosophy PhD Making History as Female Candidate for Parliament in Kuwait

In my thirteen years at UT Austin, I've had the privilege of working with many wonderful students, but Aseel al-Awadi (whose dissertation was directed by my colleague A.P. Martinich) is the only one making political history in her native country!  Aseel is the first woman in Kuwait to be supported by a political group in an election.  She is running with the National Democratic Alliance, which represents liberals in Kuwait, on a slate of eight candidates.  Although Aseel reports that she expects the Islamists to prevail in the election (the election is today), one Kuwaiti journalist has already described her as "the phenomenon of election 2008."  For those who read Arabic, the NDA webpage is here and her blog is here.  You can also see a video clip in English about her candidacy here.

UPDATE:  It appears the religious conservatives have won.

ANOTHER:  More details on election results here.