Frank R. Baumgartner

Frank R. Baumgartner is the Richard J. Richardson Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on public policy processes, racial disparities in criminal justice (particularly traffic stops and the death penalty), and agenda-setting dynamics. He has held academic positions at the University of Michigan, Iowa, Texas A&M, and Penn State, where he served as Department Head and Distinguished Professor. His work includes seminal works like Suspect Citizens (2018) and Deadly Justice (2018), recognized with major awards, including the APSA Law and Courts Section Best Book Award (2019). He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a 2023-24 Guggenheim Fellow.

Education: B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. His research spans criminal justice reform, policy analysis, and the intersection of race and law enforcement. He has advised numerous doctoral students who now hold tenured positions. His current projects address systemic racial biases in policing and capital punishment.

Scientific Awards: American Academy of Arts and Sciences membership (2017), Guggenheim Fellowship (2023-24), and multiple book awards. His research has been featured in major media outlets and policy discussions.

Advising and Grants: Supervised students now leading academic careers, with grants supporting projects on traffic stop disparities and death penalty reform. Collaborations include Healing Justice, an organization addressing wrongful convictions.