Katherine J. Cramer

Katherine J. Cramer is a Professor and the Natalie C. Holton Chair of Letters & Science in American Politics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is affiliated with multiple institutions, including the Elections Research Center, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, LaFollette School of Public Affairs, and the Center for Constructive Communication at MIT Media Lab.

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Michigan (2000)
• B.A. in Political Science and Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994)

Her research explores how Americans interpret politics through lenses of resentment, identity, and geographic belonging. Key areas include political communication, civic engagement, rural consciousness, and public opinion. Her work emphasizes qualitative methods, particularly listening to informal group discussions.

The Politics of Resentment (2016) highlights rural-urban tensions in Wisconsin politics, while her articles focus on democratic renewal, equity in policy-making, and cultural polarization.

• Inductee: American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019)
• APSA Heinz Eulau Award (2018)
• Kellett Mid-Career Faculty Researcher Award (2017-2022)
• Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters (2018)

Cramer co-founded Fora, a community engagement platform, and chairs the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Commission on Reimagining Our Economy. Her teaching includes courses on citizenship, democracy, and public opinion.