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The Political Science Post: Meet Professor Morse
Professor Julia Morse studies the politics of information, focusing on how legitimacy, compliance, and communication shape political behavior. Drawing on experience working within the FBI and federal bodies, her research examines how information is presented, interpreted, and manipulated in the digital age. From banking regulation to the role of disinformation in the international arena, Morse explores how narratives shape power and policy. Learn more about how her work connects international governance and 21st century political communication.
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The Political Science Post: Meet Professor Mahdavi
Professor Paasha Mahdavi is a leading political scientist challenging how scholars understand energy politics. Shaped by his upbringing and early exposure to extractive economies, Mahdavi’s work bridges economics, electoral politics, and climate policy. Through global research and local environmental advocacy in Santa Barbara, he examines how industry, power, and governance shape environmental outcomes. Learn more about how his personal journey informs his work toward a cleaner, more equitable future.
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The Political Science Post: Meet Graduate Student Daniel Cervantes
Daniel Cervantes is a PhD candidate in UC Santa Barbara's Department of Political Science whose research examines political communication, conspiracy theories, and elite behavior in digital age. Drawing on experiences in the performing arts, public policy, and political communication, Cervantes studies how Congress members strategically engage with misinformation on social media.
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The Political Science Post: Meet Graduate Student Taylor Trummel
Taylor Trummel is a political scientist whose research explores immigration, perceptions of fairness, and political identity in the United States. Through her work on state-level immigration policy, she challenges the idea that Latino communities can be treated as a single political bloc. Inspired by personal experience, Trummel’s research examines how policies shape belonging, linked fate, and public attitudes.
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The Political Science Post: Meet Recent Alumni Julien Labarre
Julien Labarre is a 2024 PhD graduate whose work examines disinformation, populism, and the psychological foundations of illiberalism. Shaped by his upbringing in a conservative region of France, Labarre studies how media, misinformation, and feelings of devaluation shape democratic attitudes. His research introduces the idea of epistemic vulnerability, the weakening of trust in political information that makes it difficult for people to distinguish truth and misinformation.
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The Political Science Post: Meet Our Undergraduates Hannah Weaver and Samira Sinha
What begins in the classroom at UCSB can sometimes grow into something bigger. For political science undergraduates Samira Sinha and Hannah Weaver, a group project in Professor Bimber's Political Communication course led to ongoing research examining how conservative and mainstream media frame federal actions affecting higher education, including the University of California system. This quarter, they have continued refining their research questions and methods, including experimenting with AI to better understand patterns in media coverage.
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CPEIR Speaker Series - Annjulie Vester, Feb 12
When: Thursday, February 12th
Where: Ellison Hall, 2824
Time: 12:30 - 1:30pm
Workshops are held in-person on Thursdays in Ellison Hall. See times and rooms for each upcoming session on the attached flyer. For most sessions, attendees should read the working paper distributed in advance. Attendees should email the workshop organizer (jcmorse@polsci.ucsb.edu) to be added to the mailing list and receive workshop papers.
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Colloquium - Felicity Vabulas, Jan 8
Dr. Felicity Vabulas is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University. Her research focuses on when and why states change how they cooperate internationally and the implications this has for international relations. Her latest book from Cambridge University Press “Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change” with Inken von Borzyskowski just came out this summer.
Continue Reading Colloquium - Felicity Vabulas, Jan 8Political Science Newsletter
Past-Editions Archive
The Department of Political Science published an annual newsletter from 2000 until 2015. The archive of newsletters can be found on this page.
Spring 2000
- Students Travel and Learn at the UCDC Program
- Benjamin J. Cohen Explores the Geography of Money
- Bruce Bimber Wins 1998-1999 Distinguished Teaching Award
- Kathleen Bruhn Brings Research on Mexican Politics to the Classroom
- Marilyn Lee Endows Larry Adams Internship Award
Spring 2001
- Students Learn and Demonstrate Research Skills in Honors Program
- Editorship Recognizes Dana Villa’s Research
- John Woolley Explores the American Presidency
- Laurie Freeman Sheds Light on Japanese Media
- Two Political Science Alumns Return to Campus – Cynthia Carpenter and Kirk Boyd
Spring 2002
- Students Experience the Real World of Congress in SimCong
- Political Forgiveness: A Timely Topic Explored in Professor Digeser’s New Book
- Students Gain Experience and Provide Service in Local Government Internships
- Professor Emeritus Fukui Assumes Presidency of Hiroshima Peace Institute
Spring 2003
- Mastering Methodology Challenges and Rewards Students
- The “Protest Generation” Remains Politically Active
- Faculty Research Profiles:
Jim Adams – Shifting Political Party Ideologies;
Aaron Belkin – Gays in the U.S. Military: A Question of Public Policy;
Kathleen Bruhn – Political Parties and Social Movements in Mexico and Brazil;
Benjamin Jerry Cohen – The Future of Money;
Rose McDermott – Effects of Illness on Foreign Policy Decision-Making;
Christopher Parker – Veterans, Citizenship, and Voting Rights;
and Dan Villa – New Explorations of the Meaning of Citizenship
Spring 2004
- Transitioning to the Real World – Michael Hall, Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, Thomas Lum, Laura Dodge, Jeffrey Chwieroth, Gigi Gokcek, Tom Knecht, Diane Johnson, Bonnie Field, and Chris Cook
- Fast Facts about the Department, 2004
- New Emeriti: Two Valued Professors Retire – Alan Liu and Michael Gordon
- The Politics of Testing
- Marguerite Bouraad-Nash Wins Alumni Teaching Award
- In Memoriam: Gorden E. Baker (1923-2004)
Spring 2005
- Outside Speakers Enrich Intellectual Life of the Department: Regents’ Lecturer, Dr. Carlos Mateo Balmelli, Provides Insight into Latin American Democracies; Norwegian Ambassador, His Excellency Knut Vollebaek, Discusses World Challenges; and International Relations Specialist, Kenneth Waltz
- Post-Election Roundtable: Analysis and Expectations
Spring 2006
- What Can You Do With a Political Science Degree?
Kevin McClatchy ’86: CEO and Managing General Partner, Pittsburgh
Pirates
Brenda Zomalt (Doby) Flewellyn ’74: Banker to the Entertainment
Industry
Gloria Castillo ’80: Marketing Executive Heads Chicago United
Mark Macarro ’87: Tribal Chairman, Pechanga Band, Luiseño Indians
Andrea Margolis ’88: Public Health Advocate for Children
Brett Bullington ’76: Internet Entrepreneur
Michael Sjerven ’91: Restauranteur - Legislator Hannah-Beth Jackson Brings Real-World Experience to Classroom
- Bimber’s Research Analyzes Effects of Technology on Society
Spring 2007
- Political Science and the Profession of Law
Ronald H. Clark, Ph.D. ’70: The professor who became a lawyer
David Gray Carlson ’74: The lawyer who became a professor
Kathryn Fritz ’81: Intellectual property litigator and managing partner
Douglas R. Irminger ’77: Public defender
Sara Nelson Bloom ’80: A legal career in the financial world
Gayle Binion return to teaching and research
Judge Lodge reflects on political science and the law - Political Communication: A New Focus for the Department
CNN’s Jeff Greenfield Shares Keen Political Analysis
Cory Azumbrado Charles, MA ’88: Senior Director, CNN International - Former Japanese Diplomat, the Honorable Kazuhiko Togo, is New Policymaker in Residence
Spring 2008
- Alumnus Establishes Endowed Chair in International Security Studies
- Political Science and Politics
Yier Shi ’97: From Republican Campaign Strategist to Public Relations
Executive
Jennifer Crider ’95: Communication Director for the Democratic
Congressional Campaign - T-shirts and Globalization: A Campus-Community Forum
- New Faculty Books:
Urban Protest in Mexico and Brazil (Kathleen Bruhn),
International Political Economy: An Intellectual History (Benjamin Jerry
Cohen),
Presidential Leadership, Illness, and Decision-Making (Rose
McDermott) - Milestones: Al Wyner to Retire in June; Joseph Lodge, 1932-2008: Association with UCSB Spanned Forty Years; Larry Adams, 1936-2007: Inspired the Adams Scholarship in Public Policy
Spring 2009
- Politics of Identity: A Research Focus with Diverse Dimensions
The Gender and Multicultural Leadership Project (Pei-te Lien)
The Politics of South Asia and Identity (Amit Ahuja) - Careers in Politics - Coleen Yamamura Clark ’06: Implementing Education Policy at Ground Level
- Lorraine McDonnell Reflects on her Presidential Year (American Educational Research Association)
- Benjamin Cohen Selected as Commencement Speaker
- Emeriti Notes: Liu Pursues New Career as an Artist; Stanley V. Anderson, 1928-2009
Spring 2010
- The First Honors Seminar
- Careers in Political Science: Steve Boilard ’84, Ph.D. ’92: Analyst for California’s higher education issues; Kristen Zimmer Deshler ’87: UCSB’s interface with government and the community
- The Politics of Public Policy and Environmental Politics: Cross Disciplinary Research on Current Problems
- Emeriti Notes: Gayle Binion is Newest Emeritus Faculty Member; Updates: Roger Davidson, Michael Gordon, Tom Schrock
Spring 2011
- Public Presentations: New Challenges for Honors Students
- Careers in Political Science: Administration
Barbara Morris: A Career in Academic Administration
Brian Mayhew: A Career in Finance - Dissertation Research Takes Students to Distant Lands
Stuart Gray: Comparing Ancient Greek and Indian Political Thought
Karen Pitakdumrongkit: A Multinational Case Study of the Negotiation
Process - Faculty Books: Benjamin Jerry Cohen – The Future of Global Currency: The Euro versus the Dollar
Spring 2012
- Senior Combines Honors Thesis with Rural Development Project
- Careers in Political Science - Gordon Murchie '56: From Foreign Service Officer to Wine Industry Executive
- Bruce Bimber's New Book: Collective Action in Organizations
- Merkl Chronicles Changes in Small Town and Village Scene in Germany
- International Relations Scholar Joins Political Science Faculty: Neil Narang
- Emeriti Notes: Roger Davidson, Haru Fukui, Alan Liu, and Al Wyner
- Stuart Gray Receives Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for 2011-12
- In Memoriam: Anton Vonk, MA '05
Spring 2014
- The Future of the Department: Focus on the Politics of Identity and Environmental Politics
- Undergraduate Advising
- Class of 2013 Alumni Participating in Prestigious Fellowships: Danielle Pietro (Coro Fellowship) and Ross Zelen (California Capital Fellowship)
- Department Celebrations
Faculty Accomplishments: Bruce Bimber, Benjamin Jerry Cohen,
Heather Stoll, M. Stephen Weatherford
Alumni Accomplishments: Jeffrey Chwieroth (Ph.D., 2003),
Manoutchehr M. Eskandari-Qajar (Ph.D., 1984); and Noelle Norton
(Ph.D., 1994) - Faculty Research Highlights: Garrett Glasgow, Neil Narang, Bruce Bimber
- 2012-2013 Department Award Winners
Spring 2015
- The Larry Adams Scholarship: Celebrating 15 Years of Vision, Ideas, and Practicality
- Steve Wiener’s Retirement
- Melissa Immel’s (BA 2015) Internship with First Lady Michelle Obama
- In Memoriam: Dean E. Mann (1927-2014) and Alan J. Wyner (1941-2014)
- UCSB MUN Team wins Outstanding Delegation for second year in a row
- New Faculty: Bridget Coggins
- Alumni Updates: Tom Garrison (M.A. 1980), Allison Anderson Heiduk (B.A. 1990), Lindsey Harrison Lupo (B.A. 1993), Sameer Pandey (B.A. 2014), William Statler (B.A. 1973)
- Faculty Accomplishments: Bruce Bimber, Benjamin Jerry Cohen, M. Kent Jennings, Lorraine McDonnell, and Andrew Norris