full-time faculty teaching and conducting research in political science
of Maxwell faculty conduct research focused outside of the U.S.
graduate students in residence; fewer than 12 admitted each year
Undergraduate Studies
Graduate Studies
I am Maxwell.
Civic engagement is a core value for me. I have always aspired to help the communities I’m from.” Mazaher Kaila, a Maxwell alumna and third-year student at Syracuse University's College of Law, moved with her family from Sudan to Central New York when she was four years old. “I realized that to make meaningful change in society, I needed to understand the systems that power it—government and politics—and that’s insight I would gain by studying political science.”
Mazaher Kaila ’19, L’22
political science, law
Seth Jolly Appointed Chair of Political Science Department
January 22, 2024
The associate professor of political science succeeds Shana Kushner Gadarian, who became associate dean of research on Jan. 1.
A longtime Maxwell School faculty member has taken the helm as chair of the Political Science Department. Seth Jolly, associate professor of political science, began the post on Jan. 1.
With Maxwell since 2008, Jolly teaches courses on European politics, quantitative methods, comparative political parties, ethnic conflict and the European Union. His research focuses on the interaction of political institutions and political parties in Europe.
Jolly has frequently shared his expertise in panel discussions and other engagements at Maxwell. He has participated in a weekly speaker series organized by the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and has given several talks for the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.
In addition, Jolly has held numerous leadership roles within Maxwell. He served as director of graduate studies in the Political Science Department for five years and led the Future Professoriate Program. He serves on the Graduate Faculty Council, is an advisory board member for the master of arts in international relations program, and has served on the curriculum committee, the Coronat Scholars committee, and on multiple job search committees.
Since 2010, Jolly has served as one of the principal investigators for the Chapel Hill Expert Survey (CHES), which collects expert assessments of party positions on a variety of issues, including left-right ideology, European integration and immigration. The survey helps scholars understand ideological positions and policy positions across 32 countries in Europe and, more recently, in Latin America.
His book, "The European Union and the Rise of Regionalist Parties" (2015, University of Michigan Press), explores how European integration affects regionalist parties. His research has been published in numerous journals including European Union Politics, Political Science Research Methods, the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Politics.
“I could not think of a better person to lead the Political Science Department,” says Jolly’s predecessor, Shana Kushner Gadarian, professor of political science and associate dean of research at Maxwell. “I’m confident that Seth will continue to support the department as faculty produce policy-relevant research and teach innovative new courses.”
By Jessica Youngman
Published in the Spring 2024 issue of the Maxwell Perspective
Related News
School News
Jul 29, 2024
School News
Mar 7, 2024
School News
Nov 13, 2023
BaoBao Zhang Joins First Cohort of AI2050 Early Career Fellows
One of only 15 scholars chosen from across the U.S., Zhang will receive up to $200,000 in research funding over the next two years. Zhang will use the funding to partner with the nonprofit, non-partisan Center for New Democratic Processes to test whether public participation in AI governance is increased through the creation of public assemblies, known as “deliberative democracy workshops.”
Baobao Zhang
Assistant Professor, Political Science Department
Seth Jolly Appointed Chair of Political Science Department
January 22, 2024
The associate professor of political science succeeds Shana Kushner Gadarian, who became associate dean of research on Jan. 1.
A longtime Maxwell School faculty member has taken the helm as chair of the Political Science Department. Seth Jolly, associate professor of political science, began the post on Jan. 1.
With Maxwell since 2008, Jolly teaches courses on European politics, quantitative methods, comparative political parties, ethnic conflict and the European Union. His research focuses on the interaction of political institutions and political parties in Europe.
Jolly has frequently shared his expertise in panel discussions and other engagements at Maxwell. He has participated in a weekly speaker series organized by the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and has given several talks for the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.
In addition, Jolly has held numerous leadership roles within Maxwell. He served as director of graduate studies in the Political Science Department for five years and led the Future Professoriate Program. He serves on the Graduate Faculty Council, is an advisory board member for the master of arts in international relations program, and has served on the curriculum committee, the Coronat Scholars committee, and on multiple job search committees.
Since 2010, Jolly has served as one of the principal investigators for the Chapel Hill Expert Survey (CHES), which collects expert assessments of party positions on a variety of issues, including left-right ideology, European integration and immigration. The survey helps scholars understand ideological positions and policy positions across 32 countries in Europe and, more recently, in Latin America.
His book, "The European Union and the Rise of Regionalist Parties" (2015, University of Michigan Press), explores how European integration affects regionalist parties. His research has been published in numerous journals including European Union Politics, Political Science Research Methods, the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Politics.
“I could not think of a better person to lead the Political Science Department,” says Jolly’s predecessor, Shana Kushner Gadarian, professor of political science and associate dean of research at Maxwell. “I’m confident that Seth will continue to support the department as faculty produce policy-relevant research and teach innovative new courses.”
By Jessica Youngman
Published in the Spring 2024 issue of the Maxwell Perspective
Related News
School News
Jul 29, 2024
School News
Mar 7, 2024
School News
Nov 13, 2023