Nicole Yadon

Nicole Yadon is an Associate Professor of Political Science at The Ohio State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 2020. Her research focuses on the multidimensional nature of race and skin color in American politics, particularly their influence on political attitudes, public opinion, and policing.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Michigan (2020)

Her work examines how skin tone stratification intersects with political behavior across racial groups, including African Americans, Latinos, and White Americans. She employs mixed-methods approaches, combining surveys, experiments, and qualitative interviews. Her publications include two books: The Politics of Skin Tone (University of Chicago Press, 2025) and Skin Color, Power, and Politics in America (Russell Sage Foundation Press, 2022).

Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, TESS, and the Hanes Walton Award. She has received the MPSA Lucius Barker Award for best paper on race and ethnic politics and an APSA Centennial Center Grant. Her methodological expertise includes skin tone measurement innovations like the Yadon–Ostfeld Skin Color Scale.

Scientific Awards & Grants:

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
• National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant
• Russell Sage Foundation Presidential Award
• APSA Centennial Center Grant
• Hanes Walton Award
• MPSA Lucius Barker Award

Nicole’s teaching philosophy emphasizes accessibility and critical thinking, informed by her background as a first-generation college student. She connects course concepts to contemporary events and employs diverse pedagogical techniques.