Emily Hencken Ritter

Emily Hencken Ritter is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Graduate Studies at Vanderbilt University. She holds a PhD from Emory University (2010), and previously taught at the University of Alabama and University of California, Merced. Her research examines strategic interactions between state repression and dissent under international legal frameworks, employing game theory and quantitative methods. Key areas include human rights institutions, conflict dynamics, and causal inference methodologies.

Her work has been published in top journals like the American Political Science Review and Journal of Conflict Resolution. Recent accolades include the 2025 APSA Human Rights Section Best Paper Award. She co-authored a book with Oxford University Press and leads initiatives like the ROCCA Lab at Vanderbilt, focusing on conflict and collective action research. Ritter actively contributes to professional organizations including the Peace Science Society and Society for Political Methodology, emphasizing methodological innovation and diversity in academia.

• Grants: NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (2023-2025), LSU mini-residency (2024)
• Labs/Teams: ROCCA Lab (Vanderbilt), Visions in Methodology (leadership role)
• Service: Host of 2027 Peace Science Society meeting, Society of Political Methodology conference organizer