Paul Chen

Paul Chen is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Western Washington University, specializing in U.S. Constitutional Law, federalism, and judicial politics. He teaches courses on the legal system, Supreme Court jurisprudence, and legal philosophy. His research integrates Dutch-Calvinist political thought into modern public policy, focusing on pluralism and constitutional federalism. A proponent of liberal education, he holds a BA in English, JD, MA in intercultural studies, and PhD in political science. He advises pre-law students and emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking. Fluent in Mandarin, he explores themes of 'everything being connected' in both scholarship and personal philosophy.

Education:

• B.A. in English (1990)
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• M.A. in Intercultural Studies
• Ph.D. in Political Science

Research Focus: Examines the interplay between law, courts, and society with a focus on federalism's role in rights frameworks. Current projects include analyzing Abraham Kuyper's sphere sovereignty theory and its application to modern governance challenges. His work often critiques exclusionary tendencies within pluralist systems.

Advising & Mentoring: Serves as a pre-law advisor, emphasizing critical thinking over credential accumulation. Advocates for ethical education that distinguishes between competing goods rather than mere 'right vs wrong' binaries.

Labs/Teams: No formal research lab mentioned, but collaborates frequently with scholars on federalism and legal philosophy topics.