February 2025
Weidenbaum Center Resident Fellow Steve Fazzari comments on Trump's threats to Canada
Weidenbaum Center Resident Fellow Betsy Sinclair named Assistant Vice Provost for Digital Transformation
Weidenbaum Center Research Fellow Gregory Magarian comments on offering sanctuary as a First Amendment right
The Weidenbaum Center is a research institute at Washington University in St. Louis that supports social scientific research in the fields of public policy, economics, political science, and sociology. Led by Weidenbaum Center Director Andrew Reeves (pictured), the Center funds faculty research, provides administrative support for research activities, and sponsors a wide range of public affairs programs. In doing so, the Center serves as a bridge between scholars, policymakers, and the general public. Through unbiased empirical research and events, the Center addresses many of the pressing public policy issues facing America and the world today.
The Weidenbaum Center provides significant research support for faculty in the departments of Economics, Political Science, and Sociology. This support allows a wide array of faculty members to participate in a variety of impactful research, and is of particular importance to our younger faculty who are just starting their research careers. Research efforts contribute to work that addresses key social issues locally, nationally, and globally, and enhances the prominence of Washington University in the academic and policy world. Donations fund our grant programs which support this research. We could not support nearly as much research without this generosity.
The 7th Annual Women's Networking Luncheon & Public Policy event, organized by Molly Cline (pictured far left with attendee Rebecca Nolan), had over 90 women in attendance, the most ever! Attendees represented prominent women from business, government, and non-profit sectors, as well as WashU faculty and students. The event featured faculty speakers Jaclyn Kaslovsky (Professor of Political Science & Weidenbaum Center Resident Fellow),and Caitlyn Collins (Professor of Sociology and Weidenbaum Center Grant Recipient). The event was moderated by Elizabeth Larson (Weidenbaum Center Associate Director of Research & Administration). Professor Kaslovsky discussed the experience of women in Congress. Professor Collins discussed gender inequality and work-family issues.
Authors and Professors Daniel Schlozman (Johns Hopkins University) and Sam Rosenfeld (Colgate University) discussed their new book: 'The Hollow Parties: The Many Pasts and Disordered Present of American Party Politics." The co-authors, currently on a national book tour, explained that today's Democrat and Republican parties, at once overbearing and ineffectual, have emerged from the interplay of multiple party traditions that reach back to the founding, and offered a vision for how these groups might fulfill their promise. They read excerpts from their book and answered questions about their research from Weidenbaum Center Director Andrew Reeves and the audience. A reception followed the event, where Schlozman and Rosenfeld signed copies of their book and chatted with attendees.
As a Political Science PhD student, being a member of the Weidenbaum Center has been instrumental in my growth as a scholar. Through the Center’s events, I engage with cutting-edge research on some of the most pressing political issues, broadening my perspective on innovative methodologies and the future of political inquiry. Additionally, the Weidenbaum Center has directly supported my academic success, providing the resources and mentorship to elevate my research on both institutional and behavioral aspects of American politics. My collaboration with the Center has allowed me to give back to the St. Louis community through the St. Louis Policy Initiative, bridging rigorous academic research with real-world impact. The Weidenbaum Center has not only enriched my academic journey, but has also empowered me to contribute meaningfully to both scholarship and society.
―Lukas Alexander Weidenbaum Center Graduate Research Affiliate and Political Science PhD student
Author Daniel Schlozman speaking at Hollow Parties Book Tour Event
Wash U undergraduate students at Women's event
Molly Cline, Women's event organizer, at Hollow Parties Book Event with authors Sam Rosenfeld (signing) and Daniel Schlozman.
Speaker Caitlyn Collins addressing attendees at Women's event
On March 31, the Weidenbaum Center will host Small Grant Award recipients as they present their award-winning research. Then, on April 15, we welcome Sandra Ley, an expert on the political consequences of criminal activity. And please save the date for our annual reception on May 7.
Events