Alison Gash

Alison Gash is Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. She is a leading scholar at the intersection of law, public policy, and identity, with research emphases on U.S. courts, constitutional law, civil rights, and the policy implications of race, gender, sexuality, and disability.

Education

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
• MPA-URP in Domestic Policy, Princeton University
• B.A. in Art History, Vassar College

Research Interests

Professor Gash’s scholarship explores how legal institutions shape—and are shaped by—social norms concerning identity and inequality. Her work interrogates the strategic use of silence in civil rights advocacy, the governance challenges of collaborative policymaking, and the legal vulnerabilities faced by LGBTQ families. She brings an interdisciplinary lens that blends political science, law, sociology, and public administration.

Publication Trajectory

Across a decade of influential publications, her research has progressed from foundational theories of collaborative governance to applied studies on the lived consequences of legal ambiguity for marginalized communities. Recent articles engage with #MeToo discourse, digital governance platforms, and the evolving jurisprudence of family rights.

Teaching & Mentorship

She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including:

• PS 106: Power, Politics and Inequality
• PS 275: Legal Process
• PS 368: Gender and the Law
• PS 465: LGBTQ Rights and American Law
• PS 410/510: Modern Civil Rights Law
• PS 485/585: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Affiliations & Service

As Department Head, Professor Gash oversees faculty governance, curriculum development, and strategic initiatives within Political Science. She maintains an active Zoom-based office hour system and in-person advising, reflecting her commitment to accessible mentorship.