She received her PhD in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh in April of 2009. She also has an MA in French Studies from New York University and a BA in Foreign Affairs and Economics from the University of Virginia. Dr. Taninchev is the Faculty Advisor for the Gonzaga University Model United Nations (GUMUN) program and is the President of the Spokane Chapter of the United Nations Association. Her research has focused on interest group politics in the European Union, the convergence of state interests as a result of interactions within international organizations, and, more recently, the effects of multicultural policies on immigrant integration.