Leonardo A. Villalon

Leonardo A. Villalon is a Professor of Political Science and African Studies at the University of Florida. He founded and coordinates the Sahel Research Group, focusing on political dynamics in the African Sahel region (Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Chad). His research spans religion in politics, democratization, electoral systems, education, and political stability, with recent work emphasizing the impact of climate change on vulnerable nations in the Sahel.

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Texas at Austin (1992)
• Degree from Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Paris)
• Degree from School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
• Degree from Louisiana State University

Key Affiliations:

• Center for African Studies
• Department of Political Science
• Sahel Research Group
• Trans-Saharan Elections Project (TSEP)
• UF Center for Global Islamic Studies
• West African Research Association (WARA)
• Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC)
• Sahel and West Africa Club of the OECD
• Cambridge University Press African Studies Series