University of Maryland Department of Government & Politics

08/05/2026

Earlier this year, University of Maryland Department of Government & Politics alumna Susan Smith was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts on the University of Maryland Division of University Relations’ team—but before she returned to her alma mater, she led a 30-year career working alongside Maryland senators, a governor, a county executive, and during election cycles as a campaign consultant.

Read more about Smith's career at https://go.umd.edu/SusanSmith86.

08/05/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Ernesto Calvo, Horace E. and Wilma V. Harrison Distinguished Professor in the Department of Government and Politics, on receiving the Society for Political Methodology's Excellence in Mentoring Award!

This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mentoring and advising undergraduate and graduate students, with particular attention to supporting students from underrepresented groups.

As director of the Interdisciplinary Lab for Computational Social Science (iLCSS), Dr. Calvo continues to create opportunities for students to engage in innovative, interdisciplinary research while shaping the next generation of scholars.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

07/23/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jillian Andres Rothschild on defending her dissertation and earning her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland’s Department of Government and Politics!

Her dissertation, "They're Eating the Dogs, They're Eating the Cats: How Racial Attitudes and Partisanship Shape Conspiracy Theory Support in the United States," explores how racial attitudes and partisanship influence support for conspiracy theories in the United States.

Jillian's research focuses on American political behavior, public opinion, political psychology, race and ethnicity, and civic engagement. Throughout her time at GVPT, she contributed to research on voting access and public opinion while teaching, mentoring, and supporting undergraduate students.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rothschild on this incredible achievement and wishing her continued success in the next chapter of her career!

07/20/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Wallace on her appointment as Associate Director of Faculty Initiatives in the University of Maryland's Office of the Provost!

As Senior Lecturer and Director of the Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) program in the Department of Government and Politics (GVPT), Wallace has taught courses in comparative politics, international relations, development, environmental politics, and conflict studies while leading study abroad programs that provide students with hands-on learning experiences around the world.

While we are sad to see her leave GVPT, we are grateful for her leadership, dedication, and many contributions to our department.

We wish her continued success in the Office of the Provost.

07/09/2026

Research from the Election Resilience Lab is helping inform conversations on election administration.

Following the release of "The HR of Democracy: Understanding the Election Workforce", Alysoun McLaughlin, director of the Election Resilience Lab at CDCE, was featured in interviews with WTOP News and Public News Service, where she shared insights from the lab's research on election administration, voter confidence, and the growing demands facing today's election workforce.

Co-authored by McLaughlin and the Election Resilience Lab team, The HR of Democracy: Understanding the Election Workforce examines the changing nature of election work and the workforce challenges facing election officials while offering recommendations to support long-term workforce planning.

Read the report at the link below:
https://go.umd.edu/ElectionWorkforce

07/07/2026

How can veterans help strengthen civic engagement and public confidence in elections?

Last month, Michael Hanmer, CDCE Director and GVPT Professor participated in the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Democrats' roundtable, "Continuing the Mission: Veteran Leadership in Civic Engagement."

The discussion brought together researchers, policymakers, and civic engagement leaders to explore the important role veterans can play in nonpartisan civic participation, election administration, and strengthening trust in the democratic process.

Watch the full discussion at the link below:
https://go.umd.edu/HVAC-Dems

07/06/2026

06/29/2026

Congratulations to APAN Program Director and GVPT Senior Lecturer Candace Turitto, who joined WUSA 9's live coverage of Maryland's primary election to provide expert analysis and context as results came in throughout the evening.

Appearing alongside anchors Lesli Foster and Lorenzo Hall, as well as reporter Matt Gregory, Turitto spent three hours in studio helping viewers understand the stories behind the election results.

We're proud to see our faculty sharing their expertise with the broader community and contributing to informed public discussions.

06/24/2026

Congratulations to Fiona Shen-Bayh on her promotion to Associate Professor in the Department of Government and Politics (GVPT)!

Shen-Bayh's research focuses on authoritarian regimes and the legal and judicial instruments of power. Her award-winning book, Undue Process, examines these themes in the context of postcolonial Africa and received three major book awards in 2023.

This promotion recognizes her outstanding contributions to research, teaching, mentorship, and service, as well as her many contributions to the department, university, and discipline.

Please join us in celebrating this significant professional milestone!

06/24/2026

As Marylanders head to the polls today, the University of Maryland Department of Government & Politics' Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement and Election Resilience Lab share results from a recent survey of Maryland voters about their satisfaction with their past voting experiences—and the good news is that the results are overwhelmingly positive, with more than 9 in 10 Marylanders saying they're very or somewhat satisfied with the process of casting their vote.

See if your own experiences align with their findings by learning more at https://go.umd.edu/CDCEVoterSurvey2026.

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