Colin Provost

Dr. Colin Provost is an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Deputy Head of Department for Teaching Careers at the University of College London (UCL) Department of Political Science. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Stony Brook University and was a Prize Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford University. His research focuses on regulatory governance, compliance, and the interplay between law, politics, and administration in business regulation. Supported by the British Academy and National Science Foundation, his work examines U.S. state attorneys general's enforcement strategies, corporate compliance post-lawsuits, and the impact of corporate reputation on labor law adherence, particularly the UK Modern Slavery Act. He collaborates with UCL’s Global Governance Institute and ComplianceNet, a network analyzing rules and human behavior.

Provost’s research also encompasses environmental regulation, including standard-setting and enforcement, as well as the ‘revolving door’ phenomenon between state attorney general offices and private law firms. Previously, he directed UCL’s Environmental Governance initiative from 2011 to 2013. His teaching includes courses on public management, law, and regulating big business. He actively engages in public discourse through outlets like The Washington Post, The Conversation, and UCL podcasts discussing U.S. elections, Biden’s presidency, and environmental justice.

His scientific achievements include the British Academy-funded project on corporate reputation and labor compliance, and the NSF-supported analysis of multistate settlements. Beyond academia, he contributes to policy reports on ableism in labor markets and serves on editorial boards and think tanks.