Spotlight
Watch: Research Professor Samar Ali presents conversation from TED Democracy “How to bridge political divides — from two friends on opposing sides”
Mar. 5, 2024—On November 15, 2023, Research Professor of Political Science and Law Samar Ali was joined by public affairs strategist Clint Brewer to give a talk at the TED Theatre in New York City presented by the TED Democracy Initiative. In this this talk, Professor Ali and Mr. Brewer come together in conversation to discuss how...
Research Assistant Professor Eli Merritt to discuss his new book, Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution, Sept. 9
Sep. 1, 2023—On Saturday, September 9, Research Assistant Professor of Political Science Eli Merritt will discuss his new book, Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution, at the Vanderbilt Bookstore. This discussion will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a book signing to follow. This event is Co-sponsored by the Jean...
Undergrad Maya Reddy ’24 wins the Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship
Apr. 25, 2023—Undergraduate student, Maya Reddy ’24, has won the Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship. This accomplishment awards her full tuition, a stipend, and a position with the Department of Defense in Charlottesville, Virginia after graduation, including the opportunity to work directly with an experienced mentor. Reddy is a triple major...
Vanderbilt Ph.D. now teaching at the University of Texas at Austin
Aug. 2, 2022—Michael Shepherd (Ph.D. ’20), is now an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on questions of political and economic inequality, with a special focus on the experiences of the poor with government and the representation of the interests of the poor in policymaking. His dissertation combined...
Amy Zhang wins the 2022 Avery Leiserson Award for her paper “The COVID-19 Pandemic and Interpersonal Trust in Latin America”
Aug. 2, 2022—The department bestows the Avery Leiserson Award for the best undergraduate paper in political science. Amy’s paper explores what happens to interpersonal trust when disaster strikes. Through careful statistical work, she shows that not only did the pandemic not erode trust in Latin America as we might have expected; but that in instances of high...
Sharece Thrower named to the 2022 cohort of Chancellor Faculty Fellows
Aug. 1, 2022—Sharece Thrower, associate professor of political science, was selected as a 2022 Chancellor Faculty Fellow, along with 13 outstanding faculty members from across the university.