We normally have to complete this newsletter about a month before it actually goes out. The folks in charge of distribution made an exception for this one due to the fast-moving developments in the nation’s capitol. Today is January 14th and this will be the third version of the chair’s letter that I have written. The second was written on Jan. 7, the day after the insurrection. Just one week later, the President has been impeached for the second time, and the nation is on edge, fearing... Read more
In 1997, Professor Bryan Jones, director of the newly established Center for American Politics and Public Policy, and John Wilkerson needed some coding help. They also thought that undergraduates might be interested in using the data they were collecting to conduct their own research. The Center for American Politics and Public Policy (CAPPP) Undergraduate Fellows program was launched! Six undergraduates (including the President and Vice President of the... Read more
Joe Biden has assumed the Presidency during some of the most turbulent times in the nation’s history. With both Congress and the nation closely divided between the parties, can Biden govern? What are the prospects for his agenda on immigration, racial justice, climate change, economic stimulus, confronting the coronavirus, and other issues? We will tackle these questions and consider whether public confidence in elections and democracy can recover from the bitterly contested 2020 campaign. ... Read more
Last March, it quickly became clear to the nation’s governors that the federal government would not be taking the lead in enacting policies geared towards stopping the spread of the coronavirus. What emerged instead was a patchwork of widely varying state responses to the same disease. Some governors responded quickly by adopting stay-at-home orders, limiting public gatherings, and closing schools and businesses. Others were slower to act or did not act at all. After the... Read more
Natalie Cormier is the newest addition to the Department of Political Science staff. Having joined the department in December 2020, Natalie is passionate about helping others succeed. She received her Master of Public Service and Administration (MPA) from Texas A&M after completing her B.A. at The University of Texas. Her education prepared her to work in the public sector and reinforced the value of information and learning. UW was a perfect fit for her as she was able to escape the Texas... Read more
Looking for an enlightening way to spend a quiet winter evening? The Department’s Political Economy Forum now has a podcast series. The Forum is dedicated to increasing interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration between researchers working at the intersection of political science, economics, and public policy. Recent... Read more