Announcements

Cassandra “Cassie” Vega, a civic engagement organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and a 2024 Political Science alum of Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is heading to the United Kingdom to pursue graduate-level studies as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

FACULTY BOOK LAUNCH, ELECT WOMEN FOR A CHANGE: THE PATH TO GENDER PARITY IN POLITICS Women have made significant inroads into political life over the last 30 years. Yet many nations still lag behind. Tired of tokenism, a new global movement is on the rise, demanding the full and equal sharing of political power between women and men. Elect Women for a Change makes a clear and compelling case for why gender parity in politics matters and how it can be achieved. Drawing on research from around the world, it moves beyond counting women to focus on power and diversity, identifying the structural barriers that hold women back and the practical strategies that can move us closer to parity. About the Author Mona Lena Krook is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University. She is the award-winning author of Quotas for Women in Politics (Oxford University Press, 2009) and Violence against Women in Politics (Oxford University Press, 2020) and is currently editor of Politics...

PoliSci faculty member Heather Pierce has been appointed to serve on Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill's transition team, specifically to advise on Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability Policy. She will be part of the team that contributets to the development of a state policy agenda that strengthens NJ  public institutions, particularly in higher education. Go here to see Governor-Elect Sherrill's complete policy transition team .

PhD Candidate, Samantha Koprowski has received an APSA Centennial Center Research Grant for her project, “Money Talks: Race and Gender in Public Opinion of Women's Campaign Financing.” Congratulations!

PhD Candidate Emirhan Özkan has been awarded an APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant for his project, "Hating Too Much?: Polarization and Foreign Policy." Emirhan will use the money for his dissertation on the effect of polarization on foreign policy attitudes. Congratulations, Emirhan!

 Associate Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Program Director Christine Cahill, has been selected as a member of the 2025-26 cohort of the inaugural Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Scholars Fellowship at Rutgers. The SoTL Scholars Fellowship is sponsored by the Institute for Teaching, Innovation, & Inclusive Pedagogy (TIIP) and designed to support faculty in carrying out meaningful projects related to teaching and learning. Dr. Cahill will be working on three projects this year: Applying a get-out-the-vote theoretical framework to mobilize students in large-enrollment courses to use supplemental instruction services and campus mental health resources, thereby increasing their propensity for academic success (measured as retention, GPA major, and time to graduation). A study of pedagogy training in political science PhD programs in the United States. Christy has partnered with APSA to conduct a survey of new instructors and current graduate students to understand how...

After graduating in May 2025, Eva joined the NJ Governor's Hispanic Fellows Program through the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development (CHPRD) — part of the NJ Department of State.Her advice to recent grads:👉 Do your research — even if your interest in a field is small.👉 Apply widely.👉 Don’t be afraid to reach out to your network.💬 Read Eva’s full interview and insights here  How did you find this internship? I learned about this opportunity through one of the program’s alumni, who recommended it to me and another Rutgers student as we were considering our options for post-grad plans. How many internships did you apply to before getting this one? I applied to about three other internships before being selected for this one. Were there any unanticipated costs? If so, how did you manage those expenses? Yes, I anticipated a fair amount of travel since the program includes visits to various companies and corporations in addition to traveling to and from my site placement. I was...

Welcome Professor Morgan to Rutgers Political Science! We’re thrilled to welcome  Dr. Jana Morgan to the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University! Professor Morgan brings a wealth of expertise in comparative politics, Latin American politics, comparative race and ethnic politics, and qualitative methods, enriching both our undergraduate and graduate programs. This Fall, Professor Morgan will be teaching Change in Latin America (01:790:312)—a dynamic undergraduate course exploring political transformations across the region. If you're still finalizing your schedule, don't miss this opportunity to learn from a leading scholar in the field. Register now via WebReg!

Meet Justin Ford, a senior Political Science major who applied to 45 internships before landing a spot with the Rutgers Scarlet Service DC Internship—working in the Office of Congressman Herb Conaway (NJ-03)! What does your morning look like after you arrive? Is there a structure to your day, or does it vary depending on tasks?From scanning headlines for daily press clips to fielding calls from constituents and drafting policy letters, Justin’s days on the Hill were packed. He credits his organizational skills and the support of fellow interns for helping him stay grounded during the hustle. Justin’s advice for future Hill interns?“Start building a policy-related writing sample early—it’s key for applications. Working on campaigns is a great way to get your foot in the door. And don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn—it was essential for making connections while in DC!”

The Charles E. Merriam Award is presented biennially by the American Political Science Association (APSA) in recognition of a person whose published work and career represent a significant contribution to the art of government through the application of social science research. Congratulations!

Every day is a new day for Junior Ashley Kankam at her internship with the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. As a legislative intern Ashley tells us, "it depends on the tasks. I check in with my boss to see what needs to be done, whether that’s opening the mail or completing an assignment from the previous day."  We asked Ashley to tell us more.  Where did you find your internship? I found my internship while scrolling on LinkedIn. A state senator who is part of the NJLBCF had posted about the application deadline for the internship being extended and I saw that as my opportunity to apply.   How many did you apply for before you got that "yes!"? I applied to 57 internships before I got that one yes! Start looking for different opportunities now for next summer’s internships. It's never too early to start and never give up on pursuing your future career. There may be many rejections along the way but don't let them discourage you. All you need is one yes!  What’s one recurring...

India S. Lenear, sixth year ABD Doctoral Candidate, has received the American Dissertation Fellowship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). With her work broadly focusing on Black Women's politics, Black politics, and Black feminism(s)/Womanism,  Lenear's dissertation, "From Margin to Center: Investigating Black Women's Diverse Political Ideologies," examines Black women's diverse ideological self identification, beliefs and attitudes through mixed methods  and their effect within formal and informal political spheres. The American Dissertation Fellowship is open to women in all fields of study, though those engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, or those researching gender issues, are especially encouraged to apply. Established in 1888, AAUW American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate funding for women in the United States. The fellowship, in particular, offsets scholars’ expenses during their final year of...

Political science rising senior Rigo Salvatierra has received a 2025 Beinecke Scholarship! This national program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences.   When asked, "How did the political science major prepare you for this opportunity," Rigo tells us, "The Political Science major / department proved invaluable as I have prepared for this opportunity. Thanks to the major I have been able to take classes that have aligned with my research goals, learn about various networking events and research opportunities, as well as connect with incredible faculty members that have mentored me and shown me support over the last 3 years. I would especially like to thank Professor Christine Cahill and Professor Michael Kenwick within the Political Science Department (as well as Professor Sebastian León within the Latino and...

Assistant Teaching Professor, Doug Cantor was recently awarded an IDEA Innovation Grant from the Tyler Clementi Center for Diversity Education and Bias Prevention to continue the Law & Politics Courtroom Visitation Program. The funds will be used to assist low-income students with train tickets, meals, and other expenses related to the courtroom visits in the undergraduate course, 01:790:106, Law & Politics. 

Dr. Selin Bengi Gümrükçü, Lecturer in the Dept. of Political Science, has been appointed to the Institute for International Education's (IIE) Global Community for Women's Leadership. The IIE Global Community for Women’s Leadership is the first of its kind to cultivate a global network of women changemakers who have participated in international exchange opportunities. IEE states, "This unprecedented global network provides mentorship, resources, and skills development opportunities to help women step into and thrive in positions of leadership worldwide."