Rachel VanSickle-Ward

Rachel VanSickle-Ward is a Professor of Political Studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where she has been a faculty member since 2007. Her work spans public policy, public law, gender and politics, and elections.

Education:

• B.A., Pitzer College
• M.A. and Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Her research examines policy specificity, reproductive rights, gender dynamics in politics, and electoral administration. She investigates how partisan conflict shapes legislative ambiguity and explores intersections between gender, judicial appointments, and voting access. Her scholarship bridges theoretical political science with real-world policy impacts.

Recent publications (2018-2023) reveal consistent focus on reproductive rights and election integrity, analyzing how gender influences responses to Supreme Court nominations and voting barriers. Her work demonstrates growing emphasis on empirical studies of voting behavior alongside structural policy analysis.

Scientific Awards:

• Herbert A. Simon Book Award (2018) for The Devil is in the Details: Understanding the Causes of Policy Specificity and Ambiguity

Professor VanSickle-Ward actively contributes to public discourse through KPCC's Take Two and major publications including The Washington Post and TIME Magazine. She teaches specialized courses on reproductive rights, birth control politics, and women in politics while mentoring students through research methods and election observation projects.