Andra Gillespie

Andra Gillespie is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Emory University, where she has served since 2005. She also directs the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory and previously served as Interim Chair of the Department of African American Studies (2014–2015). Her research focuses on African American Politics, particularly post-Civil Rights leadership dynamics, political participation, and interethnic competition. She employs experimental methods to analyze voter behavior and policy attitudes.

Dr. Gillespie earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia (1999) and her M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University (2005). She has held academic appointments at MIT (2011–2012) and Princeton University (2009–2010). Her work bridges academia and public engagement through op-eds in major outlets like the Washington Post and CNN, addressing contemporary racial and political issues.

Her research interests include the evolving nature of Black leadership in a 'post-racial' era, the role of race in voter decisions, and the intersection of race with gender and policy. Key projects include analyzing Black Republican identification and experimental studies on fake news and racial perceptions. She has received grants from Emory and external bodies, including a National Science Foundation Fellowship.

Gillespie has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students, mentoring Mellon Fellows and chairing honors theses. Her academic service includes leadership roles in professional organizations like the American Political Science Association and the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. Awards include the Norton Long Scholar distinction (2009) and recognition for mentorship from the Mellon-Mays program.