Hemant Sharma

Hemant Sharma is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, specializing in American Politics and Judicial Politics. He teaches core courses including Introduction to American Government, Law in American Society, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties, shaping students' understanding of the U.S. legal system and constitutional history.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Tennessee, 2009
• Bachelor's degree, Cornell University (Dean's List, James E. Rice Writing Prize winner, All-Ivy League soccer honors)

His research focuses on judicial behavior, constitutional law, and empirical analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court, with significant contributions to death penalty studies in Tennessee. His dissertation on institutional influences on Supreme Court justices gained national media attention in the Wall Street Journal and Knoxville News Sentinel following Justice Sotomayor's appointment.

Scientific Awards:

• James E. Rice Writing Prize (Cornell University)
• Otis Stephens Fellowship (University of Tennessee)

Sharma co-authored seven influential textbooks in legal studies and criminal justice, including sixth-edition standards like An Introduction to the American Legal System. His research extends to empirical assessments of race and capital punishment in Tennessee, published in the Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender and Social Justice.

Beyond academia, he serves as Volunteer Assistant Coach for the University of Tennessee women's soccer team and holds prominent coaching roles in youth development programs including FC Alliance and the Tennessee Olympic Development Program.