Wendy Rahn

Wendy Rahn is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota. She previously held faculty positions at The Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Duke University. Rahn has served on the Board of Overseers for the National Election Studies and co-edited Political Psychology (1996–2004), the official journal of the International Society of Political Psychology. Her research focuses on emotions in political processes, citizen participation, social capital, and the historical legacies of World War I. She has been recognized with the 1999 Erik Erikson Award for Early Career Excellence in Political Psychology and the 1999 Emerging Scholar Award from the American Political Science Association.

Her work bridges political behavior, public health, and historical analysis, examining topics such as voter turnout among chronically ill populations, the impact of early life conditions on elderly health, and the evolution of American populism. Recent projects include studies on financial policy during World War I and rural demographics' influence on mortality.

• Awards: Erik Erikson Award (1999), Emerging Scholar Award (1999)
• Key Roles: Co-editor of Political Psychology, Board Member of National Election Studies
• Research Themes: Political emotions, social capital, health politics, historical political economy

Rahn’s scholarship emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating demographic data, historical case studies, and contemporary electoral analysis to address questions of governance, public engagement, and policy impact.