Erica Dobbs

Erica Dobbs is an Associate Professor of Politics at Pomona College since 2018. Her expertise spans political representation, social protection, migration, citizenship, and comparative social policy, with a focus on Western Europe. She co-authored the seminal work Transnational Social Protection: Social Welfare Across National Borders (Oxford University Press, 2023) and explores immigrant political participation in her ongoing project Pathways to Participation.

• Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• M.P.P., Harvard Kennedy School of Government
• B.A., Howard University

Her research examines transnational social protection mechanisms, subnational governance in immigrant welfare, and political incorporation strategies in new immigration destinations. She teaches courses on comparative social policy, European politics, social movements, and democracy.

Her scholarly contributions highlight the role of local governments in bridging gaps in national social policies and mobilizing non-citizens into electoral politics. Key geographic foci include Spain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

• Exemplary Diversity Scholar, National Center for Institutional Diversity (2013)
• Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Mellon/ACLS (2012-2013)
• European Union Research Grant, Fulbright-Schuman Program (2009-2010)
• MIT Presidential Fellowship (2006-2007)

Her affiliations include the Transnational Studies Initiative at Harvard University and Pomona College's Department of Politics. She has received grants from the Center for International Studies at MIT and the European Union Commission.