Samantha Pettey

Professor Samantha Pettey is a faculty member in the Department of History and Political Science at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) since Fall 2016. She teaches courses including US Government, Political Science Research Methods, and Women in US Politics, with a focus on American political institutions and gender dynamics in electoral systems.

• Ph.D., University of North Texas, 2016
• M.A., University of Rhode Island, 2011
• B.A., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 2009

Her research examines how institutional features (e.g., term limits, district characteristics) and demographic factors influence the emergence and success of female political candidates at state and federal levels. She has published extensively on women's representation in Congress, state legislatures, and gubernatorial roles.

The most recent articles highlight her work on gendered electoral trends, including record-breaking female representation in 2020–2022 elections, structural barriers like term limits, and the interplay of gender and party affiliation in candidate evaluations. Her scholarship bridges academic research and public policy analysis, often featured in the London School of Economics US Centre blog.