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WHO'S WHO
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Ragsdale Appointed Dean of Social Sciences at Rice
Lyn Ragsdale
Lyn Ragsdale, former head of the Department of Political Science at the and will be published in a third together every two years with
University of Illinois at Chicago, has been appointed dean of Rice’s School
revised edition next year. political fi gures to discuss nation-
of Social Sciences. She will oversee the departments of anthropology,
During her University of Ari- al and state election results.
zona era, Ragsdale spent a year At Rice, Ragsdale hopes to
economics, political science, psychology, and sociology, as well as
as an American Political Science combine her project-planning
the managerial studies and policy studies programs. She also has been
Association Congressional Fel- style with strategic planning.
named the Radoslav A. Tsanoff Chair of Public Affairs and professor of low in Washington, D.C., where “One project that I would envi-
political science. She succeeds Bob Stein, who, during his 11 years as
she was named the William A. sion is to create a center for so-
dean, helped make the School of Social Sciences highly sought by city
Steiger Fellow (best fellow of cial science research that would
and business leaders seeking urban research.
the year), one year in London as make the social sciences as visible
an honors professor for the Ari- as possible, not just on campus
zona–Iowa Consortium Study but nationally and internation-
Ragsdale says her interest in poli- Abroad Program, and a year ally,” she says.
tics stems from her childhood “One project that I would envi- in New York as a fellow for the She also advocates that the
in Milwaukee. “I come from a sion is to create a center for Russell Sage Foundation. School of Social Sciences be a
very political family,” she notes.
social science research that
She left Arizona in 2001 to leader in diversity. “Core parts of
“That’s what we talked about at
would make the social sciences
head the political science de- the curriculum and research in
the dinner table. I knew I would
as visible as possible, not just
partment at the University of the social sciences involve top-
either go into politics or study
on campus but nationally and
Illinois at Chicago, where she ics of race, ethnicity, and gender
politics.” Her husband, Jerrold implemented a project-plan- as well as social movements and
internationally.”
Rusk, shares that professional in- ning style of management. One cultural identity,” Ragsdale says.
—Lyn Ragsdale
terest and will join Rice’s faculty of her projects entailed work- “This is important not only in
as a professor of political science. ing on the establishment of a matters of faculty hiring and re-
She began her academic ca- master’s degree in global affairs tention, but also in how people
reer at the University of Arizona, that combines the University of at all levels—faculty, graduate
where she served on the faculty Illinois at Chicago’s courses with students, undergraduate stu-
for 19 years, starting as an assis- those at a university in Europe dents, and staff—view their daily
tant professor of political science or Asia along with an internship experience on campus.”
in 1982 and then becoming an in an international organization, Ragsdale had ample op-
associate professor with tenure foreign government, or nongov- portunity to develop her orga-
in 1987 and a full professor in ernmental organization. Another nizational, interpersonal, and
1994. She directed the Univer- project focused on strengthening budgetary skills during her four
sity of Arizona Survey Research the graduate program by estab- years as editor of Political Re-
Center for three years. lishing a fellowship to recruit top search Quarterly and from her
Her research interests—the students, making travel funds year as president of the Western
presidency, electoral behavior, available for students to attend Political Science Association, for
and Congress—are refl ected in major political science conferenc- which she planned two annual
the books she has written: The es, creating a course to educate conventions for more than 1,100
Elusive Executive: Discovering students on how to publish their participants.
Statistical Patterns in the Presi- seminar papers, enhancing the In addition to carrying out her
dency; and Presidential Politics; methodology curriculum, and duties as dean, Ragsdale plans to
and Vital Statistics on the Presi- devising an exit survey to solicit fi nish writing two books over the
dency, Washington to Clinton, valuable feedback from gradu- next two years—one about the
which won the American Library ates. She also developed a project tough choices presidents make
Association’s Choice Award for called the Politics Forum, which on major decisions and one
the best reference work in 1996 brings political science alumni about America’s nonvoters.
42 Rice Sallyport
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