معرفی
Dane Wendell serves as Dean of Faculty and Associate Professor of Political Science at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. His work bridges political science, psychology, and biology through interdisciplinary research and teaching.
His educational background includes a Ph.D. with distinction in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago, an M.A. in Political Science from the same institution, and a B.A. in Political Science from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.
Wendell's research focuses on the psychological underpinnings of political behavior, particularly examining how disgust sensitivity influences political attitudes, morality policy, and immigration views. His work utilizes diverse methodologies including survey data, behavioral experiments, electroencephalography, and automated text analysis. His interdisciplinary approach connects evolutionary psychology with contemporary political issues, exploring how biological factors shape political cognition and behavior.
His recent publications reveal a consistent research trajectory examining the intersection of emotion, cognition, and politics across multiple contexts. These works demonstrate how fundamental psychological processes like disgust sensitivity operate across cultural boundaries to influence political attitudes, particularly regarding immigration and morality policy. His research combines experimental rigor with cross-national comparative analysis.
- Harry J. Dunbaugh Distinguished Professor Award for excellence in teaching (2022)
- Charles E. Frank Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching (2021)
As an award-winning educator, Wendell has developed innovative courses including an interdisciplinary Biology and Politics class where political science, psychology, and biology majors collaborate to explore the evolutionary roots of political behavior. His teaching extends to American Politics, Political Behavior, Political Psychology, the American Presidency, and American Elections, while also contributing to psychology and neuroscience programs. He has demonstrated commitment to student engagement through activities like hosting students at his home and providing personalized academic guidance regarding internships and course selection.
Wendell actively engages with the public through media appearances, including interviews about political psychology and conspiracy theories, a podcast about teaching politics, and a Constitution Day talk with the Jacksonville Area Museum entitled 'Can Free Speech Last in America Today?'
