Rosalyn Cooperman

Rosalyn Cooperman is a Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington (UMW). She holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. Her research focuses on American Government, Political Parties, Women’s Political Advocacy, and Congressional Studies. She is a co-Principal Investigator of the Convention Delegate Study (CDS), a long-running project tracking Democratic and Republican party activists since 1972. She has contributed to initiatives like the Gender Watch projects analyzing gender dynamics in U.S. elections.

Her scholarly work examines topics such as campaign finance networks of women candidates, gender gaps in political representation, and the role of party activists in shaping political dynamics. She has published widely in journals like American Political Science Review and The Journal of Politics, and her book chapters address women’s political participation and electoral challenges faced by Republican women candidates.

• Awards: 2017 John M. Kramer Award (UMW), 2012 Jack L. Walker Award (APSA).
• Contact: rcooperm@umw.edu | Department Website.

Her teaching and mentorship emphasize critical engagement with gendered narratives in civil rights history and innovative pedagogical methods. She actively participates in interdisciplinary initiatives, including the Security and Conflict Studies minor at UMW.