Elizabeth Sheridan Sperber

Elizabeth Sheridan Sperber is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Denver, specializing in comparative politics with regional expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Her research explores intersections of religion and politics, democratic erosion, and political behavior.

• PhD in Political Science, Columbia University (2016)
• MPhil in Political Science, Columbia University (2011)
• BA in History, Africana Studies, and English, Brown University (2006)

Her work has been published in top journals such as American Journal of Political Science, Politics and Religion, and Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, with recent focus on born again Christian movements and their impact on democratization. She has received multiple awards, including the 2024 Best Paper on Women, Gender and Politics Award and the 2018 Ted G. Jelen Award.

Grants from the Kellogg Institute, University of Denver, and others have supported her research on civic engagement, asset-based poverty alleviation, and youth political participation. She mentors undergraduates extensively, including securing external funding for student research trips and public engagement initiatives.