Political Science

Vanderbilt's motto, crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” Meet some of Vanderbilt's newest faculty as they share what ‘dare to grow’ means to them. Read More

Knowledge, discovery and collaboration are key elements in finding solutions to the world’s most pressing issues and challenges. Meet some new faculty members who are exploring current and pressing societal issues. Read More

Vanderbilt is thriving by every measure even as higher education on the whole faces significant headwinds, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier told faculty gathered for the annual Fall Faculty Assembly on Aug. 24. In addition, nine faculty members who have made significant contributions through their scholarship, research, creative expression or service to the university were honored. Read More

In going all in as a runner and a double major, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year finalist Kaira Brown embodies Ashe’s commitment to improving communities. Read More

Vanderbilt rising senior Induja “Indu” Kumar has been selected as a 2023 Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Scholar. The scholarship program focuses on dedication to issues affecting Indigenous lands and people and the stewardship of nations’ land and natural resources. Read More

A nine-day intensive training hosted by LAPOP provided students, postdocs, faculty and policymakers with skills to conduct trustworthy, reliable surveys in international settings. Read More

In its latest semiannual statewide survey, the Vanderbilt Poll measured significant bipartisan support for various gun regulations, basic protections for abortion access as well as health care access for the LGBTQ community. The survey was conducted April 19–23 among 1,003 registered Tennessee voters. Read More

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 who bring a unique global perspective to the Vanderbilt community. Read More

Class of 2023: Grace Locke’s desire to better understand the immigration system and people fleeing their homelands, along with her gift for multiple languages, has uniquely positioned the political science and Spanish double major to make an impact.  Read More

For the second year running, the Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville shows more than half of respondents believe the city is on the wrong track. This trend is amplified by a plurality of respondents indicating the growth of the city is making their quality of life worse, rather than better or having no effect. Read More

John G. Geer, a distinguished political scientist, a dedicated teacher and a longtime administrative and academic strategy leader at Vanderbilt University, will take on a new role in the Office of the Chancellor. Geer has been named a senior advisor to Chancellor Daniel Diermeier on key strategic initiatives that promote democracy, free expression and open dialogue—all flagship priorities for the university. Read More

Vanderbilt’s Office of Global Safety within the Office of Undergraduate Education will bring together global risk professionals from academic institutions across the country for the Overseas Security Advisory Council’s Academia Sector Committee spring Health, Safety & Security Seminar on campus April 13–14.  Read More

Reps. Gerald Connolly, D-VA, and Don Bacon, R-NE, and Sens. Gary Peters, D-MI, and John Cornyn, R-TX, top their respective lists of the most effective Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the recently completed 117th Congress (2021–23), according to the latest round of legislative effectiveness scores compiled by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint initiative between Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia. Read More

Two highly accomplished Vanderbilt faculty members will leverage their leadership experience and research expertise in new roles within the Office of the Provost. Read More

Tennessee Republicans favor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over former President Donald Trump to be the party’s presidential nominee in 2024 by double digits, according to the latest statewide Vanderbilt Poll, which also found shifting public attitudes around access to abortion. Read More

Erwin Charles Hargrove Jr., professor of political science, emeritus, and a former director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies, died Oct. 11 in Nashville. Read More

Cindy D. Kam has been named dean of faculty affairs in the College of Arts and Science. Kam, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Political Science and director of the Research on Individuals, Politics and Society Lab, steps into the role as Kamal Saggi, Frances and John Downing Family Professor of Economics, moves into a new leadership position in the Office of the Provost. Read More

For the first time since the Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville was established in 2015, more than half of respondents say they believe the city is headed in the wrong direction. Davidson County voters are concerned about affordable housing and crime, but give positive marks to Mayor John Cooper and other local leaders. Read More

Esteemed political scientist Larry Bartels, whose scholarship deepens the understanding of how voters behave and that behavior’s consequences for democratic governance, is Vanderbilt University’s winner of the 2022 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award. Read More

Join the Center for Effective Lawmaking for a roundtable discussion touching on questions of race, representation and policymaking in the contemporary Congress. The event will be Thursday, March 31, at 6 p.m. CT at the Student Life Center Commodore Ballroom. Read More