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Professor Frances Lee and Professor Stephen Macedo

April 10, 2025

Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee discuss their new book on CNN's The Lead

Collage of photos- students and faculty gathered at Thesis Day celebration in matching sweatshirts with photo props, group photos, and ice cream.

April 3, 2025

Politics Seniors, Faculty, and Staff Gather to Celebrate Thesis Day

April 1, 2025

Dennis F. Thompson, former Department Chair, passes at 84

We are sad to report that Professor Dennis F. Thompson has passed at 84. Thompson was a member of the Princeton Politics Faculty from 1986 until he left to found

March 31, 2025

Professors Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee on PBS News Hour

Professors Frances Lee and Stephen Macedo discuss their new book 'In Covid's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us" on PBS News Hour.

How are you involved with first-gen students at Princeton?

There wasn’t really any way for me to identify first-generation students or for them to identify me. Then the University set up a series of dinners to get first-gen faculty and students together. These are terrific events, and I attend whenever I can. I really enjoy hearing the students’ stories and sharing mine.

Nolan McCarty

Why did you choose to major in Politics?

I chose Politics because it gave me the flexibility to focus the bulk of my academic coursework into a specific field, which for me was Middle Eastern politics. I was able to take several classes in the history, Near Eastern Studies, and religion departments which helped me hone my knowledge base while still maintaining a Politics core.

Jordan Reimer '08

What advice would you offer a current Politics concentrator who will soon be on the job market?

View the next few years as a time of experiential learning. The fact is, there is probably very little correlation between what people do when they are 22, and what they do when they are 52. This should be liberating! Get off the “5-year-plan” mentality, and find something to do that challenges you. Learn about new people and places. Don’t worry about the career quite yet, there is plenty of time for that.

Rory Truex

Upon graduating Princeton with an A.B. in Politics, what did you do?

After graduating, I spent a year working for the International Rescue Committee in Kenya as a Princeton in Africa fellow. It was an interesting time to be in Kenya, especially working for an organization that mainly assists refugees - Kenya’s refugee policy was changing, and I learned a lot from observing how NGOs responded.

Maya Gainer '13

Why did you choose to major in Politics?

I think the most decisive factor was taking Civil Liberties and American Constitutional Interpretation with Robert George during my freshman spring and sophomore fall semesters, respectively. I found those courses completely engrossing, and I wanted to continue to think about the problems and issues raised in class. I also wanted to have a chance to continue working with Professor George, who challenged me intellectually in a way I had never experienced before.

Joel Alicea '10

What motivated you to pursue a career in higher education?

Princeton is a very stimulating environment to be in every day, and my favorite part is the interactions I have with students. As an undergraduate at Penn State, I had a great rapport with my academic adviser, Bernie Bronstein, whose assistance I sought frequently. His guidance made my experience that much smoother and ultimately made me one day want to become a ‘Bernie’ for others. This job has allowed me to serve in the same capacity with many students, which is very enriching.

Gayle Brodsky

Why did you choose to major in Politics?

As a young scholar, I was fascinated with questions of why. Why do some nations erupt into civil strife? Why are religion and ethnicity salient (and politicized) in some nations? Why are some nations stricken by the maladies of poor governance? The Politics department provided me with the theoretical foundation and analytical tools to best answer these, and many other, questions.

Karen Okigbo '09

What advice would you offer a prospective student who is considering Politics as their major?

Politics is unique in how well it complements so many other fields. Some easy examples are thinking about area studies and politics and becoming a regional specialist, but there are many more opportunities. Pair computer science with politics – big data is revolutionizing the way political campaigns run in the developed world. Or pair it with finance – the interplay of government and Wall Street is only going to be even stronger.

James Williamson '07

What motivated you to choose a career in the media?

I have the Politics Department to thank for my career thus far in news. If it weren’t for the Mass Media and American Politics course I took during my [first-year] spring, I never would have set out on this journey.

Stephanie Rigizadeh '15

All Profiles

A vibrant, intellectually diverse community

Recent News

Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee discuss their new book on CNN's The Lead

Politics Seniors, Faculty, and Staff Gather to Celebrate Thesis Day

Dennis F. Thompson, former Department Chair, passes at 84

Professors Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee on PBS News Hour

CSDP American Politics Colloquium: Amna Salam (University of California San Diego) "Bias and Accuracy in Jury Selection"

The Right to Stand as a Candidate and the Democratic Value of Elections: Annabelle Lever

PREIP: Is Six Degrees of Separation Five Too Many? The Limits of Indirect Contact