Marie Gottschalk

Marie Gottschalk is the Edmund J. Kahn Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in American politics with a focus on criminal justice, health policy, and the political economy of the U.S. welfare state. Her work examines mass incarceration, punitive policies, and labor-business dynamics in shaping public policy.

Education: B.A. in History (Cornell University), M.P.A. (Princeton University), M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science (Yale University).

Research Interests:

• Criminal justice reform and mass incarceration
• Health policy and universal healthcare
• Political economy of welfare systems
• Comparative politics of public policy

Her publications analyze systemic issues like life sentences, prison overcrowding, and the economic dimensions of incarceration. Notable works include Caught: The Prison State and the Lockdown of American Politics (2014) and The Prison and the Gallows (2006, winner of the 2007 Ellis W. Hawley Prize).

Awards: Recipient of the Ellis W. Hawley Prize for The Prison and the Gallows.

Professional Contributions: Served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Incarceration and was a Fulbright Distinguished Lecturer in Japan. Taught in China and held visiting roles at the Russell Sage Foundation.

Labs/Teams: Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations on penal reform and health policy advocacy through academic and policy networks.