Skip to main content
Vanderbilt Background Photo

‘Political Science’

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

Jun. 21, 2024—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. Born in 1945 in Hempstead, New York, Seligson developed an interest in Latin America after meeting a foreign exchange student from...

Read more


Building Community | Jack Mok BA’22 PoliSci & Econ (Senior Spotlight)

Apr. 29, 2022—From participating in high school student government to leading as AASA President, Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Scholar Jack Mok (BA’22 Political Science & Economics) has dedicated his academic career to finding belonging and giving back to the community through advocacy.

Read more


College of Arts and Science faculty recognized for excellence in 2021 university awards

Aug. 30, 2021—Vanderbilt University’s Office of the Provost annually recognizes faculty members for their accomplishments in teaching, research, and service to the campus community with internal awards. Announced at the Fall Faculty Assembly on August 26, 2021, six College of Arts and Science faculty members received awards for their outstanding work. Below are the A&S winners: Chancellor’s...

Read more


Vanderbilt Debate overcomes COVID-19 challenges to break new ground in civic engagement

Jan. 22, 2021—One year ago, Sahil “Sael” Soni ’21, a chemistry and economics double major, had just returned from a blue-ribbon performance in Vanderbilt Debate’s first-ever international competition. He was looking forward to finishing the 2019-2020 season on a high note, as were his teammates. For the last 30 years, Vanderbilt Debate has been a national leader,...

Read more


Samar Ali, JD’06, BS’03, joins Political Science, Law School faculties as research professor

Jan. 11, 2021—Samar S. Ali, JD’06, BS’03, has joined the Vanderbilt faculty as a research professor in political science and law, with a focus on international law and conflict resolution. Her appointment was announced by John Geer, Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the College of Arts and Science and professor of political science, and by Chris...

Read more


Political science course helps undergraduates connect to Vanderbilt’s long military history

Nov. 11, 2020—A little more than one hundred years ago, rows of young men stood at attention for a portrait in front of Kirkland Hall. Their wide-brimmed campaign hats and their crisp brown uniforms signaled their impending journey. After this historic photo was taken, the very first cadet corps from Vanderbilt University left to serve in World...

Read more


Political Science professor Joshua D. Clinton will project election outcome for NBC

Nov. 3, 2020—On election night, tens of millions of Americans will turn on their televisions, log onto the internet, or pick up their smartphones for a unified purpose: learning the identity of the next President of the United States. For those watching NBC’s coverage, the news will come from a College of Arts and Science faculty member....

Read more


New Political Science Research Debunks Myths About White Working-Class Support for Trump

Jul. 29, 2020—New research from Associate Professor of Political Science Noam Lupu challenges several common assumptions about white working-class support for President Donald Trump. Lupu conducted the research, outlined in the article “The White Working Class and the 2016 Election,” with Duke University’s Nicholas Carnes. The two first met in graduate school and have since collaborated many...

Read more


Political Science Faculty Join Academic Delegation to Observe Watershed Taiwanese Election

Feb. 25, 2020—Faculty from the Department of Political Science traveled to Taiwan in January to witness one of the country’s most significant presidential elections to date. Professor Josh Clinton, Associate Professor Brett Benson, and Assistant Professor Brad Smith were part of a larger academic delegation invited by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry’s goal was to...

Read more


LAPOP Receives $10 Million USAID Grant to Support AmericasBarometer Survey

Dec. 4, 2019—Vanderbilt’s LAPOP lab for international survey research has received a $10 million, five-year U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) grant to support its influential AmericasBarometer survey and related activities. The grant is the third received from USAID, which has a long-standing collaborative relationship with LAPOP. LAPOP Director and Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science Elizabeth...

Read more