Political Science

  • Vanderbilt University

    Inaugural cohort of faculty fellows elevates Immersion Vanderbilt

    Immersion Vanderbilt, now in its third year as a graduation requirement, consistently provides students with the opportunity to pursue a variety of in-depth experiences and independent projects. Students align their immersion projects with their interests—whether those are artistic, research-oriented, career-focused, globally aimed or community-engaged. Faculty from all 10 schools and colleges support students’ goals and ambitions within immersion, and this year, that support is enhanced by a new cohort of 10 Immersion Faculty Fellows who are supported by Undergraduate Education in the Office of the Provost.  Read More

    Jan 16, 2025

  • National Science Medal winners standing in a group together in front of three U.S. flags and a marble column

    White House awards Bartels and Stassun 2024 National Medal of Science

    Larry Bartels and Keivan Stassun were among the 23 recipients of 2024 National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation—the nation’s highest honors for exemplary achievement and leadership in science and technology. Both received their medals from President Joe Biden during a White House ceremony on Jan. 3. Read More

    Jan 8, 2025

  • Tennessee flag

    Vanderbilt Poll: Post-election, core concerns and views of Tennesseans persist

    The latest semiannual, statewide Vanderbilt Poll reflects that the election had little impact on Tennesseans’ stances on key issues. A notable exception was increased approvals for state lawmakers since May, despite often holding positions on some issues that are out of step with Tennesseans.   Read More

    Dec 13, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Alan Wiseman, Catherine Gavin Loss appointed as associate provosts

    Wiseman, an acclaimed political economist, was appointed associate provost for strategic projects and Gavin Loss, scholar of education history and policy, was appointed associate provost for academic affairs. Both will serve two-year terms within the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Education, with Wiseman’s appointment effective with the 2024–25 academic year and Gavin Loss’ appointment effective on Jan. 1, 2025. Read More

    Dec 9, 2024

  • President Joe Biden, Jon Meacham and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in the Oval Office

    NEH lauds Vanderbilt’s Jon Meacham for humanities achievements  

    Vanderbilt Distinguished Visiting Professor of Political Science and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham has been awarded a National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities.    Read More

    Nov 13, 2024

  • Alexys Ahn (BA’24) and Professor David Michelson consult a Syriac manuscript in the British Library. Photo Credit: Kurt Urban, BA’24.

    Provost’s Faculty Grants for Immersion Vanderbilt highlight the power of student-faculty partnerships

    Grants were awarded to 66 professors across seven schools and colleges to advise a total of 470 students during spring and summer 2024. This represents an increase of more than 40 percent in the number of faculty and students supported compared to the previous year.  Read More

    Oct 30, 2024

  • Students sit in an auditorium with seated professors on a stage.

    Vanderbilt elections course breaks record as largest elective class in the university’s history

    With 1,100 enrolled students, the number speaks for itself—PSCI 1150: U.S. Elections is a hot commodity on campus. The elective course offered every four years by the College of Arts and Science is a highly anticipated deep dive into how elections work in the U.S., blending a robust  understanding of history with extensive research from political science. Read More

    Oct 11, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Center for Global Democracy extends the work begun by LAPOP Lab

    The College of Arts and Science has launched the Center for Global Democracy, a premier social science institute dedicated to pioneering research and innovation in democratic politics around the world. Noam Lupu, professor of political science, directs the new center. Read More

    Sep 18, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Robert Putnam, political scientist and author of ‘Bowling Alone,’ comes to Vanderbilt Sept. 19

    Dialogue Vanderbilt is partnering with the Aspen Institute’s Weave Project to bring Robert Putnam to campus to explore “How to Heal a Divided America" on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. Read More

    Sep 9, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    ‘The Choice: Meacham and Geer on 2024’ begins this week

    Premiering Aug. 28, The Choice, produced by Dialogue Vanderbilt and featuring Pulitzer Prize–winning author and presidential historian Jon Meacham and Vanderbilt professor, polling expert and political scientist John Geer, will discuss the key moments and the many implications of the 2024 presidential election. Read More

    Aug 26, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Vanderbilt names spring 2024 Seeding Success Grant awards

    Thirteen innovative projects across seven colleges and schools have been selected for the spring 2024 round of Seeding Success internal grants. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation announced the recipient list on May 31. Read More

    Jun 25, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Mitchell Seligson, Centennial Professor of Political Science, emeritus, has died

    Mitchell A. Seligson, Centennial Professor of Political Science, professor of sociology, emeritus, and founder of the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) Lab died June 1, 2024, in New York City. He was 78. Read More

    Jun 25, 2024

  • Tennessee flag

    Vanderbilt Poll: Majority of Tennessee voters now pro-choice, gender gap developing on key issues

    The semiannual, statewide Vanderbilt Poll showed in its most recent survey that slightly more than half of the state’s voters support a woman’s right to an abortion, that there is significant bipartisan support of IVF procedures as well as modest gun control legislation, and that views about many state and national issues differ significantly by gender.  Read More

    May 22, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    The Choice: Meacham and Geer on 2024

    The Choice, produced by the Dialogue Vanderbilt, is a four-part podcast focused on the key moments and ramifications of the 2024 presidential election between former president Donald J. Trump and current President Joseph R. Biden. Vanderbilt’s Jon Meacham and John Geer will blend history and political science to offer insights and context about this rematch of the 2020 presidential contest. Read More

    May 16, 2024

  • Josh Clinton (Vanderbilt University)

    Clinton named 2024 Carnegie Fellow to study causes of political polarization

    Josh Clinton, who holds the Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair and serves as professor of political science and co-director of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, has been named a 2024 Andrew Carnegie Foundation Fellow. He joins 27 other scholars nationwide being recognized for their research into the polarization of society and the fortification of our democracy. Read More

    May 8, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    28 faculty honored at endowed chair investiture

    The distinguished faculty members and deans representing eight colleges and schools were presented with medallions that symbolize the attainment of their positions and will become part of their official academic regalia. Chair holders contribute their expertise to real-world challenges, including climate change, political inequality and access to justice, artificial intelligence and ICU trauma.   Read More

    Apr 11, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Unity Project to host Salam Al-Marayati, president of Muslim Public Affairs Council, on April 22

    Al-Marayati and Samar Ali, Unity Project co-chair, will explore the shared experiences of Muslim and Arab Americans and the ongoing crisis in Gaza in a timely and insightful conversation at noon on Monday, April 22, at the John Seigenthaler Center. This in-person event is limited to Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff members; you must register using your Vanderbilt email address. Read More

    Apr 9, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Vanderbilt Poll: City ‘back on the right track,’ Nashvillians largely unified across issues

    According to the 2024 Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville, a majority (53 percent) of Nashvillians believe the city is on the right track, which represents a nine-point increase from last year. It is the first time in four years the measure has increased. Read More

    Apr 4, 2024

  • Vanderbilt aerial view

    Israeli ambassador to U.S., former Palestinian Authority prime minister visit Vanderbilt classroom

    Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog joined Professor Brett Benson’s Introduction to International Politics class last week, with Fayyad on Wednesday, March 27, and Herzog on Thursday, March 28. “I think this is the only university in the country that can host Salam Fayyad one day and the Israeli ambassador the next,” Morgan Ortagus, former spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State told students, as she led the conversation with Ambassador Herzog.  Read More

    Apr 1, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Eight Vanderbilt students engage with the world in a year of record growth for the Keegan Traveling Fellowship

    Four students will be Keegan Fellows and travel the world for one year, and for the first time, Vanderbilt has also awarded four students a Keegan Fellowship to travel in summer 2024. The Keegan Fellowship reflects the promise from the university and Keegan Fellowship alumni to provide transformative global experiences that foster the growth of future leaders. Read More

    Apr 1, 2024