Laura Stephenson

Laura Stephenson is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Political Science at Western University's Faculty of Social Science. With a PhD from Duke University, she has established herself as a leading scholar in political behavior research, particularly focusing on Canadian and comparative electoral politics. Her work examines how institutions and context influence political attitudes, electoral preferences, and citizen engagement with the political process.

Dr. Stephenson's educational background includes:

• PhD in Political Science from Duke University

Professor Stephenson specializes in political behavior, with research focused on understanding how institutions and context influence attitudes, electoral preferences, and engagement with politics. Her work spans multiple areas including strategic voting, municipal elections, gender and politics, and electoral systems. She employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine voting behavior across different political contexts, with particular expertise in Canadian federal and municipal politics. Her current research projects include the Canadian Election Study, Canadian Municipal Election Study, and Consortium on Electoral Democracy (C-Dem).

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contemporary political challenges including democratic norms, electoral reform, gender and nonbinary identities in politics, and the impact of the pandemic on political behavior. These works reflect her commitment to understanding evolving political landscapes and citizen attitudes in both Canadian and comparative contexts.

Dr. Stephenson leads several major research initiatives:

• Canadian Election Study
• Canadian Municipal Election Study
• Consortium on Electoral Democracy (C-Dem)

Her previous research projects include the Toronto Election Study and Making Electoral Democracy Work. Through these projects, she has secured significant research funding and built extensive collaborative networks across North America and Europe.

Professor Stephenson is actively involved in mentoring graduate students and has contributed to methodology training in Canadian universities. Her work on the Canadian Election Study provides vital infrastructure for political scientists studying Canadian electoral behavior.