Erin O'Brien

Erin O'Brien is a Professor of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Massachusetts Boston, specializing in public policy, poverty politics, voter access, gender representation, and regional New England politics. A publicly engaged scholar, her political commentary regularly appears in national outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as Boston-based media like WGBH and Boston 25.

Educational background:

• PhD in Political Science, American University
• Master's in Political Science, American University
• BA in Sociology (minors in English and Political Science; concentrations in Psychology, Sex & Gender), John Carroll University, magna cum laude

Her research examines intersections of social policy, political behavior, and inequality through diverse methodologies including ethnographic fieldwork, quantitative analysis, and original dataset construction. Notably, her book The Politics of Identity emerged from a year working low-wage service jobs and conducting in-depth interviews, revealing how marginalized groups build political solidarity despite structural barriers. She actively investigates how student loan debt impacts political participation and analyzes Massachusetts' political exceptionalism through historical and contemporary lenses.

O'Brien has received significant scholarly recognition:

• Best Paper Award, Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting
• Best Paper Award, New England Political Science Association Annual Meeting

As an educator, she teaches undergraduate courses in Research Methods, Women and Politics, Sports and Politics, and Poverty Policy, alongside doctoral seminars on Public Policy and U.S. Political Institutions. Her administrative leadership includes founding President of UMass Boston's Department Chair's Union, former Political Science Department Chair, and longtime Director of the Public Policy Minor. She has delivered keynote addresses at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Harvard University, and international venues in China, Greece, and South Korea.