معرفی
Paul DeBell serves as Associate Professor of Political Science in the Department of Political Science at Fort Lewis College's School of Arts and Sciences, where he has taught since 2016. He founded and coordinates the FLC Civic Engagement Collaborative, driving campus-wide nonpartisan political dialogue and community voter engagement initiatives.
His educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Political Science, The Ohio State University (2016)
- M.A. in Political Science, The Ohio State University (2011)
- B.A. in Government and Philosophy, College of William & Mary (2006)
DeBell's research centers on political psychology and comparative politics, examining emotional drivers of democratic backsliding, populist movements, and 21st-century governance challenges. His work analyzes how outrage and disgust fuel anti-establishment sentiment, particularly in post-communist contexts like Hungary, while exploring pathways to strengthen democratic citizenship through deliberative practices.
His publication record reveals consistent focus on democratic vulnerability, with recent work investigating conceptual understandings of democracy support and historical analyses of emotional manipulation in political systems. This trajectory demonstrates evolving methodology from case-specific Hungarian studies toward broader theoretical frameworks applicable to global democratic challenges.
Recognition for his civic contributions includes:
- Boucher Faculty Award (2022), inaugural recipient
- National recognition for Fort Lewis College as a Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting (2022)
DeBell actively mentors students through co-authored research like the 2022 polarization study with Schwartz S. (FLC ’21), while securing institutional impact through voter engagement programs that increased campus turnout. His grants and initiatives prioritize practical applications of political science to strengthen community democratic infrastructure.
As founding coordinator of the FLC Civic Engagement Collaborative, he leads cross-campus partnerships with local organizations including the La Plata County League of Women Voters, creating structured forums for nonpartisan dialogue on polarizing issues while training students in deliberative facilitation techniques.
