Dr. Mary Anderson

Professor/David and Carolyn Brodsky Chair in U.S. Constitutional Democracy and Culture, Political Science and International Relations

Contact Information:

Antone Academic Center

Room 104

Education:

B.A. in history and political science, University of Central Florida (1994)

M.A. in political science, University of Central Florida (1996)

M.S. in political science, Florida State University (2003)

Ph.D. in American politics and public policy, Florida State University (2005)

Areas of Expertise:

American politics and policy, with an emphasis on community engagement and women and politics.

Research Interests:

I am the author of multiple books and articles. My scholarship is interdisciplinary and lies at the intersection of political behavior and psychology with an emphasis on civic engagement. My current research focuses on women and politics. I have two projects underway. One explores the emergence of women as candidates for state and local elected office and the other examines the role(s) of FLOTUS (first ladies of the United States) particularly as an executive branch actor in the policy process.

Professional Experience:

I join the Salve community as the inaugural Brodsky Chair of Constitutional Democracy and Culture after a 15-year career at the University of Tampa teaching political science and researching community engagement and women and politics. I held numerous positions at the University of Tampa including serving as department chair twice, co-founding and co-directing the UTampa Votes Coalition, and serving as the inaugural chair of the faculty senate committee on community and civic engagement. I am serving as the vice president and 2025 program chair of the Southern Political Science Association.

Personal Statement:

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that students thrive when they are actively engaged in their own learning journey. My teaching approach revolves around empowering students to become independent critical thinkers and effective communicators and encouraging them to become responsible citizens in the broader community. Ultimately, my goal as an educator is to motivate students to become change leaders who are equipped to contribute meaningfully to society. By helping students find their unique paths, develop essential competencies, and embrace their roles as informed and responsible global citizens, I aim to create a lasting impact that extends beyond the classroom. I invite students to collaborate with me on research related to community engagement and empowering women to engage in the political process.